No canyoneering until September

CEBU, Philippines - There will be no canyoneering tours in Alegria and Badian towns for a little while longer as safety measures and tour guidelines are still being put in place.

Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said Badian has asked for more time to comply with business and emergency response plans and policies for its canyoneering activities, among others.

This means the suspension of canyoneering tours will have to be extended until September.

Unlike in Alegria, trainings for canyoneering guides and operators in Badian are still ongoing. The trainings cover safety standard procedures specifically swift water management, water search and rescue, and basic life support.

 Guides who fail to undergo the trainings will not be allowed to operate as agreed upon during a consultative meeting between Capitol and town officials, and canyoneering operations and guides. Only those accredited and skilled tour guides will be permitted to operate.

 The Freeman tried to contact Mayor Robburt Librando of Badian and Raymund Sande a canyoneering guide and operator in Badian regarding the development, but was unable to reach them as of press time.

Earlier, Govenor Hilario Davide III issued an executive order closing the canyoneering sites in Barangays Compostela and Matutinao in Alegria and Badian, respectively for two months. This was to pave way for the formulation of appropriate guidelines, rules and regulations on the canyoneering activity following reported accidents in the areas and alleged violations of safety standards.

 The canyoneering tours supposedly will resume on August 1.

 Mary Grace Paulino, Provincial Tourism officer, said earlier it is expected that fewer tourists will visit the towns during the period of suspension but more are expected to patronize the tours when they know concrete safety measures have been put in place. (FREEMAN)