FOLLOWING the fatal drowning incident in the City Government-run resort over the weekend, the City Government has created a task force to investigate the death 16-year-old James Cloyd Casiño who drowned at Kagay-an Lawndale Spring Resort.
City Administrator Teddy Sabuga-a said the task force aims to conduct a thorough investigation to ferret out the circumstances behind the drowning incident.
"This, even as the City Government has already extended immediate assistance as it expressed its deepest sympathy and condolence to the bereaved family," the City Hall statement said.
The Task Force would be headed by the City Legal Office as Chair, and to be Co-Chaired by City Councilor Jay Roa-Pascual, being the chairman of the Committee on Tourism. Other members are: City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office, Human Resource Management Office, City Information Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department, City Budget Office and Regulatory and Complaints Board.
Casiño, a resident at Talongan in sitio Calaanan, Barangay Canitoan was incidentally found submerged underwater around 9:47 a.m. on Sunday, May 6, by an unidentified swimmer, who then immediately called the attention of lifeguards on duty: Jesus Javier, Alexis Ceasar Rosales and Lorenzo Almonte. The lifeguards were still able to perform cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to revive the victim.
Emergency medical assistance from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (CDRRMD) arrived after 20 minutes, and the victim was brought to the JR Borja General Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.
In an interview, Sabuga-a said the investigation will determine if there were any lapses committed by the lifeguards on duty, to be able to hold them responsible for the unfortunate incident.
"There have been many drowning incidents in the resort and we have countless successful rescues too, just this one is isn't successful. So the investigation should look at the circumstances to see how we can improve more our services and prevent this unfortunate incident to happen again," he said.
An Oro Rescue team will be on standby every Saturdays and Sundays where most people are expected to come, especially that it is summer season, Sabuga-a said.
In April last year, the City Government has completed the restoration of Lawndale resort and opened it to the public, in time for summer too.
The city has spent a total of P20 million for the restoration of the spring resort where swimming competitions are usually held, with Olympic-sized pool which can be used for practice by athletes before competitions.
The resort has three pools available for adults and four pools that can be used by children.