SIX beach resorts in Bacolod City are non-compliant with City Ordinance 749 or the hiring of certified lifeguards, the official of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) said Wednesday, May 1.
Dondon Parandas, head of DRRMO, said about six beach resort owners failed to hire lifeguards to ensure the safety of the beachgoers.
These beach resorts are located in Barangay Pta. Taytay.
“Even if they are small beach resorts, they need to hire lifeguards for the safety of the beachgoers,” Parandas said.
He said he will submit the lists of the beach resort owners who failed to hire lifeguards to the Permits and Licensing Division.
Parandas pointed out that the beach resort should have at least two certified lifeguards.
In 2018, the Philippine Coast Guard held training for the lifeguards in Negros Occidental.
The lifeguards were given a certificate for completing life-saving technique training, basic life support cardiopulmonary resuscitation course, water safety course, and water search and rescue course.
This year, DRRMO along with the Philippine Coast Guard will hold another batch of training for the lifeguards in Bacolod.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia had earlier ordered the DRRMO to enforce CO 749.
Leonardia said that resorts are good businesses and they can afford to hire lifeguards.
“If they cannot hire lifeguards they have no business operating because a lifeguard is supposed to be a regular fixture of any resort,” he said. (MAP)