THE municipal council of Santa Fe on Bantayan Island, northern Cebu has passed an ordinance that will regulate diving activities in their jurisdiction.
According to the recently issued Ordinance No. 11-2021, all diving operators are required to get a mayor's permit before they can operate.
They are also required to submit a business vicinity plan, occupancy permit, proof of business ownership, an accreditation from the Philippines Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD) and other documents.
They must also have air refilling stations or compressors, 20 compressed air tanks, 10 sets of buoyancy control devices, dive boats, dive professionals and local dive guides for their applications to be approved.
The ordinance also requires all dive guides, tour guides and boat captains to abide by the regulations and attend seminars and orientation to update their knowledge.
The Santa Fe Diving Association should also be formed as a collective organization for all diving professionals.
Private business owners and the local government unit must also come to an agreement on how to manage local tourist initiatives, develop and improve all dive sites and marine protected areas, identify dive sites, and put restrictions into place.
Everyone is reminded that all dive sites must be regularly monitored, and recreational divers must pay a P100 fee for each day they dive.
Diving without buoys is also prohibited.
Additionally, boats are not permitted to drop their anchors at dive sites, shoot fish there, collect flora and fauna, or interfere with reefs.
Violators will be fined P2,000 for the first offense, P2,500 for the second offense plus revocation of business permit and an imprisonment. (ANV, TPT)