Incident command post goes up in Cloud 9 Siargao

BUTUAN CITY — Tasked with being the immediate responder and main protector of tourists, the provincial government of Surigao del Norte has set up an Incident Command Post (ICP) in the country’s surfing destination in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte province.

The ICP was established on Thursday at the Oh Wow Surf in “Cloud 9”, General Luna town, Siargao Island.

The members of the ICP First Aid Team will be in the area “roundthe-clock” as first responders to any untoward incident or accident.

Aside from the ICP First Aid Team, a rescue team will also be “on standby” in every surf spot in that Pacific Ocean-facing town of General Luna.

The local government unit of General Luna also organized a medical team for any emergency.

“We will try our best to serve and protect our tourists, both foreign and domestic, including our residents in the island, as I also required the other eight municipalities, aside from General Luna town to strengthen their respective disaster risk reduction and management councils as immediate responders of any untoward incident,” Surigao del Norte Gov. Sol F. Matugas said.

The provincial chief executive also ordered the strict implementation of environmental laws, rules and regulations in an objective to protect and preserve the amazing beauty of the already acknowledge “Paradise Island” in northeastern Mindanao.

The government of Surigao del Norte is already taking bold steps to improve the sewerage and waste management system of Siargao, and create a master plan for the top surfing destination to avoid the problems now plaguing Boracay island.

Surigao del Norte First District Rep. Francisco Jose F. Matugas ll said the local government was already setting up a P290-million centralized solid waste management system which will be completed within the year or early next year.

“We don’t want Siargao to become like Boracay, that’s why everybody in our island, especially local officials are closely coordinating for its protection and preservation.” he said. (Mike U. Crismundo)