ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ENFORCERS. Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Oscar Albayalde (left) shakes the hand of Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu during the launch of the Kaligtasan at Kalikasan (Kaligkasan) volunteer program on Boracay Island. More than 100 Kaligkasan volunteers as environmental law enforcers were also presented on Friday (Oct. 26, 2018). (Photo by Karen Bermejo)
BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday launched its Kaligtasan at Kalikasan (Kaligkasan) volunteer program coinciding with the island’s reopening to help promote environmental protection in tourism areas.
The Kaligkasan program is a project of the PNP, which taps local volunteers in ensuring security and environmental protection in tourist destinations in the country.
“Through the Kaligkasan, we can ensure the viability of our ecological tourism destination at all times,” PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde said.
The project is expected to be replicated in other tourism areas including Coron and Puerto in Palawan, Oslob in Cebu, Siargao, La Union, and Baler.
This is to showcase the positive impact of sharing responsibilities between and among government agencies including the PNP, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Tourism, and other force multipliers in securing the tourists, said Albayalde.
More than 100 Kaligkasan volunteers coming from the three villages of Boracay pledged to become the island’s environmental law enforcers before Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu during the program.
Aside from the Kaligkasan volunteers, 32 environmental law enforcers of the DENR which dubbed their group as Lawin also took oath on Friday.
The group of volunteers will be patrolling the beach areas of Boracay, said Cimatu.
Cimatu said this is to ensure the strict implementation of environmental laws on the island.
He said the environment department will also conduct periodic inspection of all operating establishments. (PNA)
