WANTED : BAYBAY BEACH LIFEGUARDS ; SAPIAN, "MOST PREPARED" TOWN FOR DISASTER RESPONSE

WANTED : BAYBAY BEACH LIFEGUARDS ….Two children drowned off Baybay Beach last week, 1 died the other hospitalized.

One of the victim, a 9-year old pupil from Plaridel Elem School died despite numerous attempts by his relatives ,Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel and Brgy CVOs  to rescue him failed.

According to authorities, the victim with his parents joined a family outing in one of the resorts in Baybay . But without the knowledge and consent  of his father and mother , the victim together with four other companions went swimming off the water . Later on, the boy was engulfed by big waves and vanished. 

Two days after the drowning incident ,  the boy’s dead body was retrieved at Brgy Cogon.

Prior to the drowning  of the 9 year old boy, a 10 year old boy also drowned in the same area, over-looking the Baywatch-Lifeguard outpost manned by the CVO members of  Brgy.  Baybay.

Fortunately, the Brgy CVO's  have been alerted of the incident and the victim was rescued immediately, brought to the hospital and was able to recover.

According to the PCG, at least four people already died from drowning  off  Baybay Beach, specifically in the area fronting  People’s Park all the way to Barbasa Resort , since January of this  year.

Coast Guard personnel and CVO members of Brgy. Baybay told BK News that they are very concerned on the occurrence of  rip currents off the beach.

These currents are formed by a low point on the beach bottom which in turn causes a rapid outward flow of water.

This occurs when variable wave conditions create unevenness in the ocean bottom. Rip currents may pull continuously or suddenly appear after set of waves.

Typically, a victim will not realize he or she is near a rip currents until he or she is in a predicament and panics.

Coast Guard District Commander Lt JG Dela Pena say that this figure is already “alarming” and the local government unit and resort owners should act immediately, according to him, to avoid more drowning casualties.

Dela Pena emphasized that they can only respond to drowning emergencies  in the Baybay beach area once they are immediately informed of the incident , since they are stationed at the Culasi Port.

Through the years, Baybay Beach has been the premier destination for family gatherings, peer outings and picnics, not only of the city residents but as well as of people in the nearby municipalities and other provinces in Panay Island.
 

The development along Baybay Beach is obviously unstoppable noting the presence of new and old resorts, commercial and residential structures that attract visitors and local tourists.

However, it is sad to hear that there are  people now, calling the Baybay Beach as “killer beach” because of many casualties due to drowning .

Beach-goers are now worried that swimming  off the waters of Baybay is not safe anymore especially for children and even for the adults.

Unfair statements but we must take it seriously.

To soften the negative image of Baybay Beach brought by series of drowning incidents,  there are suggestions that the city government should form and finance a “well-trained and well-equipped” team of lifeguards to watch over beach-goers.

Well-trained and versatile Beach Lifeguard’s primary job is to promote and maintain a safe beach through presence and direct action.

Lifeguards also execute proactive and reactive situational responses, perform ocean rescues, provide first aid and CPR,  help locate and reunite missing or lost children to their families and maintain a degree of order in the beach.

Beach Resorts along Baybay should also maintain their own lifeguards  since majority of the drowning victims are their patrons.

If possible, prohibit swimmers when wave condition is very dangerous and  depth markers should also be placed in the area to tell swimmers how deep the water is at that point.

Summer is fast approaching and beach lovers are now eager to take a dip off the cool waters of Baybay, therefore the government must act fast.

Parents and guardians should also be reminded to make sure that a close eye is kept on their children when they are swimming on the beach. Do not let them wander off on their own or be without the supervision of a responsible adult.

For adults, do not use alcohol or drugs when swimming.

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SAPIAN, "MOST PREPARED" TOWN FOR DISASTER RESPONSE…The province of Capiz is one of the many provinces in the country that is frequently  visited by typhoons, floods and other natural calamities.

The peaceful town of Sapian is not exempted when we speak of towns in  Capiz having been hit by landslides and flash floods since some of their barangays are situated  on the mountainside.

Sapian was also hammered in the past  by countless typhoons because of its  geographical location, North of Panay Island, facing the famous Sapian Bay.

This is the very reason why the administration of Mayor Arturo “Turic” Orosco, Sr, with the help of concerned Sapianons  created its own 40-member Disaster Response Group.

The Disaster Response Group of Sapian is responsible for a quick response on natural or man-made disasters and other cases of emergencies, including fires.

According to former Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) Action Officer Ret. Supt.  Jose Daradar, Sapian is the only municipality in the province having  a  “well-trained and well-equipped” disaster and emergency response team.

Under the leadership of Mayor Turic, the LGU of Sapain provided its Fire Emergency  Team with proper equipment such as fire suits, breathing apparatus, telescopic ladders,  bolt-cutters, chainsaw, a fire truck with a 900-meter fire hose, use for any fire incidents within the municipalities or its neighboring town.

An ambulance for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is also on stand-by  24-hours to provide emergency medical assistance, including victims of  highway accidents.

For water and sea rescue, Sapian’s Disaster Response Team has a 20-setter motorized-fiber glass boat, life jackets and yes, complete scuba diving gears for its two professional scuba divers who are residents of the municipality.

As matter of fact, the municipality of Sapian is the only LGU in Capiz recognized by no less than the Office of the Civil Defense and the RDRRMC for having the “most-equipped and well-trained” rescue group in Western Visayas.

Mr. Arnz Caberte, the Executive Assistant of Mayor Turic said that Sapian have  dump trucks and a generator set that can produce DC-power and light-up a wide area during long period of power interruption.
Caberte also revealed that they will soon acquire a rubberized boat.

This summer, a team from the Philippine Air Force based in Cebu will conduct a “Sea Rescue” training for the members of Sapian’s Rescue Group, a first in the region.

No wonder, Sapian is an envy for other municipalities frequently visited by floods and other natural calamities, when disaster preparedness is concerned.