PNP gives tips to ensure safe summer vacation

April 10, 2019

The Philippine National Police on Wednesday urged the public to observe travel safety best practices during this summer vacation as people are expected to visit various places, especially this upcoming Holy Week.

This is in line to PNP’s anti-criminality campaign and nationwide security plan dubbed as “Ligtas SUMVAC 2019.”

According to PNP spokesperson Colonel Bernard Banac, they already recorded seven drowning incidents and encourage the public to be careful while on the beach and swimming pool.

“If you plan to swim on a beach, you have to make sure that you are in the company of people who know how to swim and know the first aid station in the vicinity as well as the PNP assistance desk," he said.

Banac said the public should take extra precaution when travelling to far places especially when using their own vehicles.

“The safety tips were also given to travelers and tourists taking public transportation, as well as visiting churches, beaches and resorts,” he said in a statement.

PNP urged the public to follow the following tips when travelling using their own car:

• Plan your drive, drive your plan. Run the BLOWBAGETS checklist (Battery, Light, Oil, Water, Brakes, Air, Gas, Engine, Tires and Self)

• Install Smartphone apps that can be useful in planning a road trip by selecting the shortest and safest route; and identifying motorist assistance points, rest stops and location of police outposts.

• Vehicle documents such as Certificate of Registration (CR), Official Receipt (OR) as well as the driver’s license should be kept inside the vehicle in case of emergency and checkpoint;

• See to it that the driver had enough rest and in good condition before going on a long drive; and

• Keep calm while driving and always obey the traffic rules and speed limits.

For those who will travel using bus terminals, airports and seaports:

• Arrive early in terminals, sea and air ports when travelling with the elderly and children;

• Secure your tickets and passports;

• Avoid wearing expensive pieces of jewelry;

• Look after your belongings and constantly check them;

• Be alert against snatchers; and

• If possible, travel light.

And for those who are leaving their homes during vacation:

• Don’t let many people know you are leaving your home unattended;

• Make sure house doors are locked;

• Make sure that appliances are unplugged;

• As much as possible, use burglars alarms or install CCTV. The PNP is urging the public to invest on high-security lock mechanisms to secure their houses; and

• Ask some force multipliers in the barangay (village) to check your house from time to time.

PNP also asked the public to keep their travel plans and trips private as much as possible by following these tips:

• Do not share flight information such as clear picture of your passport and flight details, if you must share, at least wait until you returned home from the trip.

• Keep your plans to yourself or your family and make meet ups private; and

• Do not post information of your trip real time, this may indicate that there is nobody inside your residences. You might have to delay posting your pictures/videos if you want to safeguard your belongings.

As of April 10, the PNP established nationwide a total of 4,548 Police Assistance Desks/Centers (PADs/Cs) manned by 25,723 police personnel. Ella Dionisio/DMS