BACOLOD CITY — Aquatic lifesavers and pool lifeguards of various resorts and tourism establishments in Negros Occidental are undergoing training on basic water safety with the Philippine Lifesaving Society.
The training, set from July to October this year in various local government units, is initiated by the provincial government through the Negros Occidental Tourism Division.
Provincial Supervising Tourism Operations Officer Cristine Mansinares said they have schedules for five batches this year.
The first three-day training conducted at Jomabo Island in Escalante City that ended on Sunday was attended by 37 participants in the northern Negros city.
The four other trainings will be held in the cities of La Carlota, Cadiz and Himamaylan, and Cauayan town.
Mansinares said the training focuses on water safety, water rescue with rescue board handling, and resuscitation with automated external defibrillation and oxygen therapy.
“This will help ensure the safety of tourists and residents in key tourism areas with water-based recreational activities,” she said.
Last year, a similar training was also conducted in San Carlos City and Hinigaran and Hinoba-an towns.
Meanwhile, the Negros Occidental Tourism Division also partnered with the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Western Visayas for the conduct of gender sensitivity orientation for tourism stakeholders in the province. The second run was held on July 25 at Metro Inn Hotel in Bacolod.
It was attended by 40 representatives from the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Negros Occidental, Alliance of Tour Guides in Occidental Negros, Tourism Educators and Movers Philippines-Western Visayas, Council of Hotel and Restaurant Educators of the Philippines-Negros Island, National Association of Independent Travel Agencies-Negros Occidental, and city tourism offices of Bacolod and Talisay.
The first orientation conducted last June 27 was joined by 55 participants.
Four more orientations will be conducted in Negros Occidental this year.
Mansinares said the participants learn the basic gender concepts and principles, and how to properly deal with gender issues in the tourism industry. (Erwin Nicavera/PNA)
