MAASIN CITY- The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in this city has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with barangay Tunga-Tunga, the central village of the city, for the maintenance of a public beach located along Espina boulevard, at the back of the city hall.
First in the order of business was to rename the beach into “Baybajon sa Tunga-Tunga,” baybajon being the term for beach in bisaya with a Maasinhon accent, said Senior Jail Inspector Bernardino Edgar Camus, the city jail warden.
“The giving of a new name was necessary to erase the negative connotation of the previous name, Likay-Likay beach, which carries the impression that bathers had to evade something as the term literally means a call to escape,” Camus said during the PIA Kapihan Friday.
Development plan envisioned for Baybajon sa Tunga-Tunga involved the putting up of open nipa huts free-of-charge for beachgoers enjoying the high tide there, on a first-come, first-served basis; a space for volunteer lifeguards; and subdued lighting during the night, Camus said.
“These will be presented to the barangay and the local government unit since BJMP has no budget, but personnel may be scheduled to serve as lifeguard,” he added.
The initiative was part of BJMP’s adopt-a-park program as well as the bureau’s efforts at enhancing community relations, Senior Jail Officer II Sergio Maglines pointed out, adding that the MOA was signed last month, April 23.
“The beach is unique as other barangays in the city proper like Combado, Tagnipa, Abgao, Mantahan, and Mambajao had no such attraction,” Maglines said.
Major events being held at Baybajon sa Tunga-Tunga are the annual conduct of Octoberfest acoustic concert, activities during July 1 anniversary of the province, and charter day activities of the city on August 10.
On weekends especially on a high tide, and every Sakay-Sakay festival of the city in late January, locals and visitors converged in this place, enjoying the white sand and each other’s company, and having fun.
“Meanwhile, the city’s BJMP will continuously push to maintain its top record in the region as a no smoking jail facility, having garnered a Red Orchid Award from the Department of Health,” said Senior Jail Officer III Marlon Abar.
(LDL/MMP/PIA-8, Southern Leyte)
