Palawan tourism sector urged to scale up crisis management foresight

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1049152
• Wednesday, September 26, 2018 9:43 pm

By Celeste Anna Formoso (PNA)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- A security and business continuity expert is urging Palawan's tourism sector to get trained on crisis management to ward off threats of natural and manmade calamities and terrorism.

"Dapat mayroong (There should be) proactive planning. We are not reactive. We have to plan ahead, come up with concepts on how to avoid this crisis or risk that may happen. If we cannot avoid those things, at least we might be able to mitigate the impact," said Henry Teodoro Hernia, security and business continuity manager of Fluor Philippines, during the Tourism Crisis Management Symposium of Department of Tourism (DOT) here on Tuesday.

Hernia said there should be a proactive plan with local government units (LGUs) against threats of terrorism and the unrelenting power outages to sustain the tourism industry.

The proactive plan, he said, should have focused concern for municipalities in Palawan that have tourist spots and regularly get the largest share of visitors.

Hernia said terrorism is a factor that both tourists and investors consider whenever they go to a place or make investments.

"Dito sa (Here in) Palawan, I think power [is one of the crisis] and as far as I know, there have been incidents of kidnapping. Palawan has a lot of beautiful places, but you have to ensure the security and safety of everyone. What if investors find out that this province doesn't have a security plan, then they will have a second thought to invest," Hernia said.

Sheila Marie Reyes of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) in Region 4-B (Mimaropa), which covers the island-provinces of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan, said tourism industry players should upgrade their capacities too, to handle other natural and manmade disasters.

This is because Palawan is no longer free from experiencing weather disturbances, such as storm surges, flooding, landslides, and human-induced calamities like fire, and others.

"Kaya ang tourism sector, dapat alam nila kung paano mag-responde sa mga calamities. Pagdating naman sa mga armed conflicts, dapat kung mayroon suspicious activities or tao, dapat i-report kaagad, since sila ang frontliners. Dapat mayroon at patuloy ang kanilang mga trainings (That is why the tourism sector should know when or how to respond to calamities. When it comes to armed conflicts, if there are suspicious activities, they should help report immediately, since they are the frontliners. Training on these should continue)," Reyes said.