Aklan Urged to Invest in Provincial K-9 Facilities to Combat Bomb Threats and Drugs

KALIBO, AKLAN — As Aklan cements its position as a global tourism powerhouse and a center for regional education, the call for a dedicated, province-wide K9 security infrastructure has reached a critical turning point. Stakeholders are urging the Provincial Government and the private sector to collaborate on a State-of-the-Art K9 Breeding and Training Facility to safeguard both the classrooms of Kalibo and the shores of Boracay.

The School Safety Crisis: Ending the “Culture of Fear”

The rising frequency of bomb threats targeting schools across Aklan—most notably the disruptive incidents at Aklan State University (ASU) and various private institutions—demands a localized response.
“Every time a school receives a threat, we lose more than just a day of classes; we lose our children’s sense of security,” says the proposal. Currently, Aklan must often wait for K9 reinforcements to be deployed from neighboring provinces.

A localized K9 unit would allow for:

* Rapid Clearing: Reducing campus lockdown times from hours to minutes.
* Prank Deterrence: High-profile K9 presence discourages the “bomb joke” culture that paralyzes academic operations.
* Psychological Peace of Mind: Visible security that reassures parents and faculty.

Boracay’s Global Reputation: High Stakes at the Jetty Port

With Boracay Island welcoming over 2 million visitors annually and a massive surge in cruise ship arrivals at the Caticlan and Cagban ports, the security logistics have become a “volume challenge.”

The Cruise Ship Factor: A single docking ship can offload 3,000 foreign and domestic tourists simultaneously. K9 units are the only tool capable of non-intrusive, high-speed detection of explosives and narcotics in such high-density scenarios.

* The Drug Interdiction Shield: As a premier destination, Boracay remains a target for the transit of illegal substances. K9 units at the “entry and exit points” of the province act as a filter that manual searches simply cannot match.

A Unified Investment for All of Aklan
The proposal emphasizes that this is not just a “Boracay project” or a “Kalibo project,” but a Provincial Security Standard. The facility, which could be managed via a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), would serve as the nerve center for:
* Stationed Units: K9 teams permanently assigned to major transport hubs (Airports and Jetty Ports).
* Mobile Strike Teams: Units ready to be dispatched to any school or municipal plaza in Aklan within 30 minutes.
* Regional Training Hub: Potential for Aklan to become the K9 training capital of Western Visayas, generating additional local revenue.

The Bottom Line: Insurance for an ₱47 Billion Economy

With Boracay’s tourism revenue exceeding ₱47 billion, the cost of a provincial K9 program—estimated at roughly ₱5M to ₱10M for a full facility and initial teams—is a minor premium for a massive insurance policy.
“We cannot wait for a tragedy to act,” the release concludes. “By investing in K9 facilities now, Aklan sends a clear message to the world: Our schools are safe, our ports are secure, and our province is open for business.