29 responders complete WASAR, BLS in SurSur town
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur – Some 29 trainees successfully completed and passed the five-day Water Search and Rescue Training (WASAR) with Basic Life Support (BLS) held recently at the Enchanted River in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.
Their final exercise, however, was a one-mile endurance swim from Cambatong boat terminal to Sibadan Fish Cage in which they swam without any floatation device. They all survived.
Both trainees are now certified Responders especially for emergencies on the
beach and the high seas in the said municipality.
It was the Department of Tourism (DOT)-Caraga Region that spearheaded the
activity in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard – Surigao City and the
Local Government Unit (LGU) of Hinatuan. The DOT provided starter kits composed
of life vests and first aid kits to the successful trainees.
The LGU officials headed by Hinatuan Mayor Shem Garay with Vice Mayor Tito
CaΓ±edo III through MPDC chief Ferdinand Barrios expressed gratitude to the DOT
headed by Regional Director Nelia Arina represented by Janika Velasco, for the
training grant to Hinatuan town.
The activity primarily aimed to upgrade the competencies of the tourism workers
and tourist destinations to better serve local and foreign tourists.
The presence and continuing support of the Provincial Tourism Office led by
Mary Vil Cruz-Chan also made the training even more meaningful, as well.
Meanwhile, the DOT handed over some basic rescue equipment composed of spine
boards, rescue cans/floaters, life vests, and first aid kits to LGU-Hinatuan,
as they culminated the said activity to the Local Government Unit of Hinatuan.
(with a report from LGU-Hinatuan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
