Provincial government insures Badian tour guides

CEBU, Philippines — Some 860 canyoneering tour guides in Badian town now enjoy insurance coverage with the Government Service Insurance System after the Cebu provincial government paid for their insurance premium.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia recently led the ceremonial distribution of the GSIS cards with insurance coverage worth P100,000 on October 26, 2023 the same day she lifted the suspension of tourism and canyoneering activities in Kawasan Falls for safety reasons.

According to Sugbo News, the official Facebook page of the provincial government, the tour guides also underwent safety compliance and accreditation training with the Department of Tourism which they finished also on the same day.

The insurance, which covers death caused by any form of accident and animal bites, as well as medical reimbursement for expenses incurred due to an accident, aims to provide safety nets for canyoneering and tour guides as they perform their daily activities.

Garcia said their job is very risky and adrenaline-filled, and that they should be covered by insurance.

It can be recalled the governor led the reopening of Kawasan Falls and resumption of canyoneering activities in the towns of Ginatilan and Malabuyoc last October 26, 2023.

This marks a major feat for Cebu's tourism industry as the world-famous tourist spot is now ready to receive tourists after undergoing a months-long rehabilitation.

With the reopening, the Cebu provincial government will now manage the operations of Kawasan Falls and canyoneering activities in the province.

That means, tour-related transactions will have to go through Capitol as it now directs the administrative side of operating Kawasan as well as canyoneering. — (FREEMAN)