Personnel of the Ilocos Norte Provincial Police Office (INPPO) have been placed under full alert status to ensure safe and meaningful travel during the Holy Week.

INPPO Director PCol. Frederick Obar said Monday the Philippine National Police (PNP) has prepared a comprehensive security plan for summer vacation particularly on traffic management and personnel deployment to ensure public safety before, during and after the observance of Holy Week.

In anticipation of heavy traffic amid a surge in tourists going up north, Obar said, a total of 100 personnel from Region 1 were deployed to Ilocos Norte to increase police visibility in major thoroughfares and tourists destinations.

“We also tapped our force multipliers like our volunteer riders, barangay (village) peace-keeping action teams, baywatch patrollers and from our counterparts from other government agencies such as the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), PCG (Philippine Coast Guard) and DOH (Department of Health), among others,” he said in a media interview.

Obar said around 36 assistance desks manned by tourist police round-the-clock are scattered in various parts of the province while all-women patrolling teams have been assigned to secure visitors and guests in the province.

The Ilocos Norte police also advised the public to download the free iPOLICE app via Play Store for Android phones to have the services of the local police at their fingertips. (PNA)