Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. wants every public swimming pool and other bathing facilities nationwide to have qualified lifeguards to ensure the safety of the swimmers and prevent possible contamination of diseases.
In filing Senate Bill No. 1581 requiring the employment of qualified lifeguards in all public swimming pools and bathing facilities, Revilla said his bill also mandates the Department of Health (DoH) to lead the program.
Revilla said the bill also supports Chapter 7 of Presidential Decree No. 856, or the Code of Sanitation of the Philippines promulgated on Dec. 23, 1975, which also mandates the DOH to protect the health and safety of persons who use public swimming or bathing places.
He said the lifeguards also seek to correct sanitary practices of persons swimming to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases, correct sanitary procedures of personnel working in those places and to maintain their adequate sanitation and cleanliness of accessories used by customers.
The bill also required business establishments to provide adequate numbers of trained personnel and necessary equipment needed for lifesaving and rescue work and post conspicuous signs to warn the public of the presence of artificial or natural hazards.
“A competent lifeguard trained for lifesaving and artificial resuscitation shall always be present during all swimming periods in public natural bathing places, including beaches,” Revilla said in his explanatory note.
The lifeguard must be a holder of a nationally recognized lifesaving certificate and shall be assigned to every 100 bather in a confined area, with another lifeguard in a tower for every 90 meters and another lifeguard in a boat for every 600 meters in the swimming area. (PNA)
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