THE PHILIPPINE Coast Guard (PCG) will conduct a five-day training course for the lifeguards of various resorts and beaches in Bacolod City today, May 22.
Executive Assistant Jose Maria Vargas, cluster head for disaster management, said yesterday, May 21, the training will be held at the VM Global College and Training Centers Inc. from May 21 to 25.
He said all resort and beach owners were required to send their participants to complete the training.
"21 resort and beach owners agreed to send their representatives, we expect about 45 participants, who will pay P2,500 each, for this training. This is the first batch and PCG can hold another batch of training for Bacolod," Vargas said.
Vargas noted that the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) also required that all the local resorts should have certified lifeguards.
"Hiring of lifeguards is part of their operation and the city will not renew their business permit if they fail to hire lifeguards. We want to level up the resorts and beaches here," Vargas said.
He said Bacolod has an existing City Ordinance No. 08-15-749 requiring pool or resort owners and similar businesses to provide duly certified lifeguards and lifeguarding equipment in their operation.
After the training, the participants will be given a lifeguard certificate for completing basic life-saving technique training, basic life support, cardiopulmonary resuscitation course, water safety course, and water search and rescue course.
Vargas disclosed that after two years, the lifeguards should renew their certificate to the PCG-Bacolod office. (MAP)