BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO – Halfway through the year, the province had 21 drowning incidents — more than double the eight incidents recorded in the first half of last year, data from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Iloilo showed.
Here is the breakdown of the 21 incidents per month: January – three, February – five, March – three, April – three, May – one, June – four, and July – two .
“Nagsaka gid compared last year kay pandemic to ya pero subong damo na mga parties,” PCG-Iloilo commander Paterno B. Belarmino, Jr. told Panay News.
Most of the drowning casualties were under the influence of alcohol.
“Karamihan sa mga drowning incidents ngayon na mga casualty is ‘yong mga adult na under the influence of liquor; another one is ‘yong may mga mental illness,” Belarmino also said.
This World Drowning Prevention Day, July 25, the PCG-Iloilo is urging stakeholders to learn basic water safety and survival measures.
Belarmino is hoping the provincial government would also require beach resorts and establishments with swimming pools to have professionally trained lifeguards.
“Sana magkaroon ng ordinance sa province with the help of local government units (LGUs) to require mga beach resorts or inland resorts na may life guard na trained kasi kami hindi namin ma-control. Wala kami permit, ang amin lang is to assist kag mag-provide ng proper training sa mga lifeguards on duty for their establishments,” Belarmino added.
In Iloilo City, meanwhile, a 2013 regulation ordinance authored by Councilor Ely Estante Jr. required owners and operators of public pools, including subdivision pools, lakeside resorts, water parks, and other similar structures and accommodations with bathing and/or recreational facilities, to provide duly certified lifeguards and life-guarding tools and equipment necessary for the purpose and provided penalties for violation thereof.
Belarmino said the ordinance should be amended and updated to reduce drowning incidents in the city and the whole province.
On its part, the PCG-Iloilo is conducting Water Search and Rescue Training (WASAR) Training to teach LGUs and other government agencies basic survival techniques.
“On going ang mga WASAR training ngayon. We have five days of WASAR training na kino-conduct namin sa mga nagre-request na mga LGUs, PDEA, at saka iba pa,” Belarmino said.
The PCG-Iloilo commander also said the lessons would be helpful in case of flooding.
“Ang mga LGUs are also encouraged to have training for their personnel diyan sa mga coastal municipalities and even mga inland municipalities, kasi may mga flooding incidents, so we also request that they have training,” he added.
Swimming lessons and seminars are also open to children. In the agency’s survey, 35.6% of drowning incidents involved children 14 years old and younger.
“Sa mga training kasama diyan mga kabataan. Nagkaroon kami ng training para sa mga kids since our survey reported almost 35.6% sa mga drowning incidents almost 14 years old and below na mga kabataan ang biktima. Nag-focus tayo sa mga kabataan para we teach them how to survive, ‘yong mga basic na paglangoy maturuan sila at a young age,” Belarmino stressed.
World Drowning Prevention Day is a global advocacy event that serves as an opportunity to highlight the tragic and profound impact of drowning on families and communities and offer life-saving solutions to prevent it.
Aside from enrolling in swimming and water safety classes, the World Health Organization advised the following safety measures:
* Always ensure children are constantly supervised by a responsible adult when around water.
* Always wear a lifejacket when traveling on water.
* Be aware of the weather conditions and ensure any boat you are traveling in has adequate safety equipment and is in good condition.
* Learn how to perform rescue and resuscitation./PN
