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Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Ban on diving from Kawasan Falls eyed
CEBU CITY -- The Barangay Council of Matutinao in the southwestern town of Badian, wants to enact an ordinance banning diving from the first waterfall of Kawasan Falls, which is about 20 meters high.
That, as Senior Superintendent Carmelo Valmoria said he hoped officials would be strict against allowing thrill seekers to jump from the top of the falls.
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Valmoria said most of the freak accidents at the popular tourist spot happen when someone jumps from the top of the falls. Those who did were also usually drunk.
On Good Friday, Korean national Ryu Ho-Jun jumped from the top of the waterfall and landed directly on Lim Sang Guen, 24, who was on a raft. Lim later died of his injuries.
On Maundy Thursday, a man also jumped from the second level of the Kawasan Falls and failed to surface. He was later found dead.
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has created a council to look into the incident. She said the council would also undertake the formulation of the eco-tourism development plan for the town.
Garcia also said the council will look into the complaint of overcharging of tourists and visitors.
The Barangay Matutiano Council, meanwhile, wants to prohibit diving from the Kawasan Falls, especially when there are rafts around. The council also plans to limit rafts in the area.
Sun.Star Cebu was in the barangay when the council held its session Monday.
The Matutinao Barangay Council, however, wants to clarify that what happened was an accident and hopes that it won't discourage foreigners from going to Kawasan Falls.
Matutinao Barangay Captain Lourdes Duque said Koreans are the top visitors of Kawasan Falls.
Officials said it was ironic that the accident happened on the week that the barangay created a briefing center. Duque said the briefing center was put up in anticipation of the large number of tourists during the Holy Week and the coming summer season.
Duque said they did not have the funds to put up the center but got a sponsorship from Smart Communications, which put up two tents just outside the entrance to the falls last March 17. The sponsorship, however, is only for three months.
The center is manned by Merliza Barde during the day and by barangay tanods, working in shifts at nighttime until dawn.
Barde briefs about 100 people a day. She said she remembered that Lim's group stopped by the center and even brought with them a local guide, known as hauler, who is paid P150.
Ryu's group was also asked to be briefed but the group said they visited Kawasan Falls twice already so they don't need a guide or even a briefing.
The Barangay Council said they could not force the tourists to get a guide.
Barde said that if they had a hauler with them, Ryu might have been advised not to jump because the hauler would have seen the raft.
The raft is also one thing that the Barangay Council wants to limit.
Duque said the river is too narrow for more than two rafts. When Sun.Star Cebu visited Kawasan Falls on Monday, there were six rafts on the first waterfall and three on the second.
The short seminar at the briefing center includes a description of the falls, the entrance fee and the rates of the cottages.
Barde explained that some operators tend to charge foreigners a more expensive rate, which is why the center also receives complaints regarding this matter.
This was the main reason why Duque and the rest of the council initiated the briefing center. But the council also included some safety reminders in the briefing.
"The road is somewhat slippery, so be careful with your steps; you are advised to wear flat shoes or rubber sandals," a handout read.
"We don't have lifeguards, please attend to your companions and swim preferably with life jacket," the handout also read.
Duque explained, however, that the people manning the restaurants in the area also act as lifeguards. There are also tanods that man the area.
The Badian Police Station also fielded men in the area.
Station Chief Police Inspector Rodrigo Orbigoso said the waterfall is not an "accident-prone area." In fact, there are some haulers who are asked to dive by foreigners who would then give them at least US$1. Others are given more.
Ramon Lastimosa, a barangay tanod and a hauler, dove at the waterfall a number of times. He said he does it for free but sometimes tourists give him tips.
"Okay raman mo-dive, wala gyud nay problema. Problema ra kung walay guide makatudlo (It's okay to dive. The problem is when you don't have a guide to teach you)," Lastimosa said.
Orbigoso also said that what happened with Lim was just an accident. The police are working with Lim's family on the possible filing of a complaint against Ryu for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide.
Orbigoso explained that the law is lenient on the complaint, paving the way for a possible amicable settlement.
"We are coordinating with the family, but it is still up to them," he said.
Lim's family arrived last Saturday. They are reportedly in discussions with Ryu's parents on the case.
On the part of the Municipal Government, Blesilda Virtucio of the Office of the Mayor, said that they will have to remind the public on the briefing center.
The Barangay Council also discussed yesterday the putting up of a big sign at the first waterfall stating that jumping from is not allowed. (JGA/MEA/GMD/Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (March 25, 2008 issue)
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