DoT allays fears of tourists, resort owners

Department of Tourism (DoT) Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano assured tourists and resort owners of protection against terrorism as he lauded the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Philippine Navy for their continuing efforts in securing the country’s coastal and island resort areas through its "Task Force Stingray" project.

"We should establish an environment conducive to sustainable economic development for those engaged in tourism-related services and continue to secure and protect the persons engaged in tourismoriented services," he said.

The project, according to Durano, exemplifies coordinated leadership, one of the three guiding principles set by the DoT on achieving five million tourist arrivals by 2010.

Task Force Stingray, also known as the Naval Task Group 80.1 Stingray, is composed of high-speed gun boats, a 78-footer patrol gunboat, a PN Islander aircraft and a cyclone class vessel. It also has two Naval Special Warfare Group teams and an NISF technical signal intelligence team.

These ships are deployed in the triboundaries of the Naval Forces of Western Mindanao, Cebu and Western Palawan.

During the send-off ceremony of the three navy ships at the Philippine Navy Headquarters, recently, Durano said, "The DoT will continue to accomplish the task of securing the country’s tourist destinations and sustain the tourism industry’s growth through the help of the DND’s Task Force Stingray."

"We are protecting the reality that our country’s breathtaking and impressive destinations are safe and secure, affording local and foreign tourists the freedom of movement and activities that will make their stay more exceptional and memorable, since we are after all, the friendliest and most hospitable country in Asia," he added.

The area of responsibility of Task Force Group Stingray covers the waters of the entire archipelago, wherever a terrorist threat from the sea may be imminent.

Its deployment is intelligence-driven, and assets of the Task Force Group may be operating simultaneously in the different divisions of the Naval Forces.

Task Force Stingray will be providing DoT with periodic intelligence and security assessment reports on coastal and island resort destinations in relation to its task of pro-active naval and maritime intelligence operations, including the physical inspection of travel destinations.