PB member proposes regulation of skydiving

CEBU, Philippines - Provincial Board member Arleigh Sitoy is pushing for an ordinance regulating skydiving activities in Cebu, with corresponding penalties.

Sitoy said a recent incident wherein a medical student was killed while parachuting impelled the PB to initiate measures that would allow the component cities and municipalities in Cebu to monitor the operators of such activities.

Operators will be monitored if they adhere to the promotion and introduction of basic safety requirements in accordance with the prevailing standards, Sitoy said.

Sitoy said the ordinance shall be known as the “Parachuting or Skydiving Ordinance of 2011”.

As cited in Section 4 of the proposed ordinance, the ordinance applies to all jumps except those sanctioned by the Armed Forces of the Philippines or made as a result of an in-flight emergency.

As mandatory requirements before a scheduled jump, a formal notice served to the Office of the Mayor which has jurisdiction of the location of the re-identified drop zone, must be presented, as well as a list of names of all persons involved in the actual jump.

A valid certificate that the person performing the jump has had ample instruction and training or duly licensed to undertake the jump whether as a student, professional skydiver or as an instructor must also be presented.

A valid license or permit to operate as a skydiving or parachuting school or establishment must also be secured.

Any person who fails to comply with the requirements will be fined not exceeding P5,000 and imprisoned not more than one year, or both fine and imprisonment, upon the discretion of the court.

Skydiving or parachuting activities in Cebu have gained fame among extreme sports enthusiasts, both local and foreign, due to the accessibility of Cebu and its nice sites.

Although skydiving and parachuting enthusiasts are strictly prohibited from taking jumps without prior instruction and training, Sitoy said there have been cases involving skydiving and parachuting which resulted in serious physical injuries and even death.

Last October 20, a Cebuano medical student of the University of Sto. Tomas died after his parachute did not deploy properly while he was freefalling during an exhibition for the Ormoc City Charter Day celebration.  (FREEMAN)