Outdoor offerings in towns still suspended ‘til guidelines are ready

CEBU, Philippines - Two months after the drowning incident involving a tour guide, outdoor activities in Alegria town like canyoneering remain suspended.

Desmond Latero, focal person of the local disaster risk reduction and management office in Alegria, said they have yet to finalize the town’s tourism guidelines, which would focus on the safety and schedules of the outdoor activities.

“Suspended pa gyud until further notice kay kinahanglan pa mahimo ang guidelines… I-clarify pud when (the area) mag-close ug open to the guests or tourists,” Latero told The FREEMAN.

The guidelines would also include capacitating tour guides in terms of rescue operations.

On July 26 this year, tour guide Aldrin Carba, 26, went missing when a strong current hit him while he was supervising 22 guests from Manila and Cagayan de Oro. His body was found the following day.

Latero said the area where the incident happened has been assessed in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), as basis in coming up with the safety guidelines.

DENR and the Department of Tourism are spearheading the drafting of the guidelines.

The suspension of the outdoor activities does not only apply to Alegria.

Dennis Cortes, operations officer of the provincial DRRMO, said Alegria is among the areas in the province whose outdoor activities have been suspended temporarily upon the recommendation of Capitol.

The province earlier directed towns with eco-tourism and outdoor activities to update their safety policies.

“Katong existing (eco-tourism areas) nga way problema, wa pay nahitabo, go ra gihapon sila. Puwede man sila mu-operate pero they have to see to it nga ang mudala sa mga guests should be trained. Atong depensahan ang disgrasya man kay it will eventually go back to our office man,” he said.

The PDRRMO has already assessed some eco-tourism areas in the province to include the caves in Tabuelan and Pinamungajan, a river in Toledo City, and falls in Samboan town.

Cortes said the assessment was undertake to also ensure the safety of the communities living near these areas.

“(For example) naay community duol sa langob. Atong gitan-aw ang sitwasyon nga anytime naay earthquake. If there are communities living in the area, ato gyud nang advise-an nga muhawa, i-relocate na (we have to advised them to leave the area or relocate them),” he said.

He added that the province is also eyeing at localizing the policy for eco-tourism areas with the help of different stakeholders in a gathering on October 13 this year.

“Muhatag pud ang DOT og module unsaon pagdala sa mga guests. Sa part sa PDRRMO mutabang pud mi skill wise para sa safety,” he said. – Michael Vencynth H. Braga/JMO (FREEMAN)