The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will deploy 800 tourist police officers across major tourism areas in the country to strengthen safety and security in key destinations.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the deployment will begin in April following the approval of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in coordination with the Department of Tourism (DOT).

“The President has approved my plan that beginning April, we will launch together with the Department of Tourism the tourist police,” Remulla said.

The initiative aims to increase police visibility in high-traffic tourist areas, deter criminal activity, and ensure faster emergency response while creating a safe and welcoming environment for both visitors and local businesses.

Remulla said the 800 tourist police officers will be equipped with motorcycles to allow better mobility in crowded tourist sites and remote scenic areas. The Philippine National Police (PNP) will distribute new motorcycle units dedicated for the deployment.

Initial rollout sites include Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Poblacion in Makati, Boracay, Siargao, Cebu, Bohol, and Puerto Princesa.

Apart from strengthening security, the tourist police will also help promote the country’s central emergency hotline to ensure that visitors can quickly reach authorities during emergencies.

“Every tourist that arrives in the Philippines will be given the calling card of 911. Para alam nila na we have a 3-minute response time kahit nasaan sila sa Pilipinas,” Remulla explained.

In 2025, the government’s Unified 911 system recorded a 97 percent response efficiency rate for nearly four million calls received nationwide. The system has also handled incidents in several tourist destinations, in line with the directive of President Marcos to prioritize tourism safety.

Remulla said strengthening tourism safety also brings economic benefits, particularly to the country’s middle class.

“When you improve tourism, it’s the middle class that benefits. They contribute the most and they get the very least benefit. We have to strengthen the middle class and make the country better,” he said.