BALER, Aurora — The Aurora Provincial Police Office (APPO) has reactivated its “Oplan Sumvac” in anticipation of the influx of visitors to various destinations in the province, particularly to resorts and other tourist spots here.
Senior Supt. Jonas T. Amparo, the APPO provincial director, said on Saturday that they are now on full alert status to ensure the safety of both tourists and residents, as well as the smooth flow of traffic along major thoroughfares here.
Amparo said he already directed Senior Inspector Ferdinand Usita, the assistant chief of the APPO Provincial Operation and Plans Branch, to set police assistance desks and centers in convergence points and some recreational areas here.
“The APPO would like to assure the public that sufficient personnel from different units/stations are on standby ready to respond in any situations,” Amparo said.
Citing public social responsibility and cooperation as vital in preventing crime, he encouraged the public to provide the police with relevant and timely information through the various PNP social media accounts.
“Security measure is our main concern during the summer vacation for local and foreign tourists who will be attending religious and other traditional occasions, and that is the reason why the entire police in the province is all prepared. We also coordinated with other government agencies, non-government organizations and force multipliers due to an early start of summer vacation, which coincides with the observance of Lenten season,” Amparo said.
He added that the Aurora Peace and Order Council has conducted meetings to discuss the rerouting schemes in preparation for the expected influx of tourists here.
The province is one of the country’s top destinations during summer, attracting more than 1.21 million tourists last year.
In the province’s capital town of Baler, among the tourist destinations are the Dicasalarin Beach, Digisit Beach, Dimadimalangat Islet, Ermita Park, Lindy’s Point, Local Katipuneros Memorial Marker, Lt. James Gilmore Marker, Lucio Quezon’s Residence, Lukso-Lukso Islets, Moro-Moro Zarsuela, Quezon Memorial Park, Sabang Beach, Aurora Quezon Marker, Aniao Islets, Baler Catholic Church, Museo de Baler, Cemento Beach and Charlie’s Point.
In Casiguran town, the tourist spots include Casiguran Sound, Dancalan Beach, Dilipot Beach, Ermita Hills and chapel, Mainit Spring, Motyong, Ontoc beach, San Ildefonso Falls, Sayak-Sayak Falls and Santo Niño Point.
In Dilasag town, the tourist attractions include Canawer Beach, Dilasag Coast, Diniog Beach, Dipasaleng Beach, Nagcuartilan Falls, Singep Falls and Tariktik Point.
In Dinalungan town, the top destinations are Bulawan Falls, Ditawini Beach and Nipoo Beach.
Dingalan town, otherwise known as the “ Batanes of the East,” and is one of the blooming destinations in the province, offers tourist spots such as the Butas na Bato Beach, Butas na Bato Caves, Dingalan Bay View Site, IFRC Nursery/Paltic Falls, Lamao Caves, Rocks of Dingalan, Seven Hills and White Beach.
Meanwhile, the town of Dipaculao has several natural wonders that boast of Aurora’s rich natural resources, such as Borlongan Beach, Borlongan Falls, Bunga Point Beach/Ampere, Diamanen Mini-Park and the Dinadiawan Beach.
It is located within the heart of the province and has the longest coastline among the towns in Aurora.
In Maria Aurora town, among the tourist spots is the Balete Park.
It is known as the millennium tree and becomes so popular and a favorite shooting site for local and foreign movies, as well as television shows.
The other attractions are Aurora Memorial National Park, Bazal-Baubo Watershed/Bazal Spring, Galintuja waterfalls and Dimasalan Falls.
San Luis town, on the other hand, has Banju Spring, Cunayan Falls, Dibut Bay, Dicasalarin Bay, Diotorin Beach, Diotorin Falls, Ditumabo Falls, which is also known as mother falls, Doña Aurora Memorial Shrine and El Pimentel Falls.
Amparo said aside from the implementation of security measures in tourist destinations here, the Aurora police will also intensify the conduct of special operations against criminal elements and will execute preventive security measures to address possible hostile acts by communist rebels and other forces, who may take advantage of the situation. (Jason De Asis/PNA)
