BALANGA CITY – A member of the provincial board has expressed alarm on the recent drowning incidents that transpired in two coastal towns for the past three weeks.
Board member Aristotle Gaza in a conversation with this reporter via Messenger shared his interaction with former Morong (Bataan) Mayor, Dr. Jorge Estanislao.
“I’m just thinking if we could declare a temporary closure or suspension of operations for period when our seas are (on) its dangerous level,” Gaza told Dr. Estanislao, husband of incumbent Morong Mayor Cynthia Linao-Estanislao.
Last weekend, on September 2 and 3, two separate drowning incidents were reported by Bataan Provincial Police Office.
In Morong town, Danilo Andaya, 52, a resident of Caloocan City was taken away by strong current along with his companions while swimming on a beach during bad weather conditions. The caretaker said, the management barred them from swimming but they reportedly insisted saying they will just take a walk and eat snacks due to bad weather.
In Bagac town, Ernesto Garcia of Balanga City also drowned and died. Nearly two weeks ago two fatalities were also reported in related incidents on beach resorts in the said municipalities.
Dr. Estanislao told BM Gaza that the recent drowning incident is still under investigation. The former mayor said that since his reign as the chief executive of Morong up to the present, all the requirements of the Tourism Department and other local ordinances are strictly implemented to all the resort operators.
“My provincial committee (on tourism) will conduct a separate initiative (on this incidents),” Gaza concluded.