ILOILO City – The Department of Tourism (DOT) is enforcing strict safety measures by requiring beach resorts and tourism establishments with swimming pools in Western Visayas to employ lifeguards – trained professionals responsible for ensuring the well-being of people in aquatic environments.
This requirement is crucial to the security of tourists visiting these attractions, explained DOT Region 6 assistant director Phoebe Zelie Areño.
The region boasts 1,900 tourism enterprises accredited by the DOT, and these include beach resorts and tourism establishments with swimming pools.
“Accredited resorts are required to have their lifeguards; it is essential for maintaining the standard of our accreditation,” Areño stressed.
Lifeguards are skilled in swimming and trained in lifesaving techniques, including first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and rescue methods. They are tasked with monitoring aquatic activities to prevent drowning and other injuries, enforce safety rules, and respond to emergencies.
What about the non-accredited tourism enterprises?
According to Areño, DOT is actively campaigning for local government units (LGUs) to encourage tourism establishments within their jurisdictions to seek accreditation, so their safety measures could be monitored.
Accreditation ensures that tourism facilities and amenities offered to guests meet safety standards, including the availability of lifeguards, she stressed.
Western Visayas is known for its myriad beaches that attract thousands of domestic and international tourists annually, and foremost of these is Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan where there are lots of resorts.
While LGUs also have the authority to mandate the hiring of lifeguards as they issue operating licenses to beach resorts and tourism establishments with swimming pools in their jurisdictions, Areño noted that compliance among resorts and beaches in the region is generally satisfactory.
Resorts and beaches are advised to ensure lifeguards are present during operational hours, especially in swimming pool areas and open beach spaces.
“Since they are required, they really have to have their lifeguards during the operation of their swimming pools or in open beach areas until a certain time because some beach areas are open up to 6 p.m., and night-time swimming is not advised without a lifeguard,” Areño explained.
To qualify as a lifeguard, applicants must present a certificate indicating they have undergone training in first aid treatment and rescue operations, said Areño.
Training can be conducted by the Philippine Life Saving Society or the Philippine Coast Guard, which follow a standardized training module.
Local government units, often in partnership with the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, typically fund these training programs.
Additionally, the DOT offers training on water safety to personnel of accredited tourism establishments to enhance their first aid skills and life-saving capabilities in emergencies.
The importance of these measures is underscored as the DOT prepares to observe World Drowning Prevention Day on July 25.
Areño warned that failure to comply with these regulations could result in the loss of DOT accreditation.
“If we receive complaints regarding the absence of lifeguards, we immediately call their attention for compliance,” she said.
In 2023, Region 6 welcomed over 5.36 million tourists, generating approximately P70 billion in tourist receipts, reflecting the importance of maintaining rigorous safety standards to ensure a secure and enjoyable experience for all visitors.
Here is the breakdown of the 2023 tourist arrivals in Region 6:
* Aklan – 2,200,138
* Antique – 149,509
* Capiz – 196,844
* Guimaras – 133,818
* Iloilo – 318,535
* Negros Occidental – 694,015
* Bacolod City – 780,916
* Iloilo City – 886,283/PN
