(Photo courtesy of DOT Eastern Visayas)
TACLOBAN CITY — Tourism workers and frontline responders in Guiuan, Eastern Samar underwent five days of water safety and aquatic rescue training as part of efforts to improve visitor protection amid the municipality’s growing water-based tourism activities.
The Water Safety Symposium–Public Safety and Aquatic Rescue (WSS-PSAR), held from Aug. 17 to 21, was organized by the Department of Tourism (DOT) Eastern Visayas in partnership with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the local government of Guiuan.
The training brought together lifeguards, tour guides, Community-Based Tourism Office personnel, barangay officials, resort operators, tourism establishment representatives, surfers and other responders.
DOT Eastern Visayas OIC Regional Director Ma. Catherina Apostol said visitor safety should remain a key foundation of tourism development as Guiuan continues to expand its tourism potential.
She stressed the importance of strengthening local capabilities in water safety, aquatic rescue and emergency response so visitors can safely enjoy the municipality’s coastal and marine attractions.
Guiuan is among Eastern Visayas’ emerging surfing destinations, making water safety and emergency preparedness particularly important for tourism stakeholders.
The training was conducted with the Philippine Life Saving and Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary as partners and featured lectures, demonstrations and hands-on exercises.
Participants received instruction on Basic Life Support with Resuscitation and Emergency Care, including basic life support, resuscitation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency care.
They also underwent training in basic swimming, water safety and lifesaving techniques, followed by practical aquatic rescue exercises involving surf rescue board handling and the loading of conscious and unconscious casualties at ABCD Beach.
The participants also conducted cave-in rescue exercises at Linao Cave, where they applied rescue techniques in a different environment while strengthening teamwork and emergency preparedness.
Safety training kits were distributed to the participants to support the continued application of the skills they gained during the training.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
