Davide wants tourist destinations checked for emergency preparedness

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III wants to know if all resorts and tourism destinations in the province are prepared to respond to emergencies.

He made the call following the complaint of broadcast journalist Karen Davila about the lack of emergency medical services in some facilities in Siargao last week, after her son got injured during a surfing lesson.

Governor Davide told reporters yesterday that he ordered the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and the Provincial Health Office (PHO) to inspect resorts and tourism establishment to ensure that their personnel are trained and prepared to respond to emergencies.

With President Rodrigo Duterte bent on closing Boracay Island to tourists so it can recover from environmental damage, Davide said that Cebu is expected to be an alternative tourism getaway.

While he is confident about the capability of health personnel hired by the Province, Davide said also wants the PHO to inspect rural and municipal health units, as well as district and provincial hospitals, to see if they are equipped to deal with emergencies.

In her post that went viral, Davila reported the lack of accountable personnel following her son’s accident, such as trained medical personnel and well-equipped facilities in Siargao. The Department of Tourism and other concerned agencies have vowed to investigate, in response to the complaint.