BY: FERLIZA C. CONTRATISTA
CEBU CITY, April 25 (PIA) --- Life saving should be institutionalized in the localities.
This was stressed by Philippine Life Saving (PLS) Secretary General Larry Alag who said that it is the aim of their organization to be of help among local government units (LGUs) to make life saving an institution especially in coastal municipalities and islands.
“It is a fact that drowning kills more children annually than malaria and tuberculosis, and we have a lot of beach and diving spots in Cebu,” Alag said.
In the town of Santa Fe in the island of Bantayan, Mayor Jose Esgana embraced the PLS advocacy and immediately called for trainings for resort personnel.
This paved the way for the competition dubbed as “The Great Titan” Championship in Santa Fe to be held next month.
More than 40 life saving teams from all over the Philippines will compete in Santa Fe in the hope of coming up with a strong group that will compete in the international world life saving competition.
Alag said the Philippines sent a contingent two years ago but the group failed to clinch a medal.
“This year, it is going to be in France and we are hoping that this time, we will get a medal,” Alag said.
The life saving competition, he said, may be a fall back for athletes who did not make it in other sports competition like swimming.
“In here, for an athlete to be able to compete, he has to be a life saver first,” Alag said.
Esgana for his part said that he supports the event and PLS, and assured tourists and visitors of the town that it is safe to swim and have fun.
“We want to promote Santa Fe as safe and drown-free, because we practice accountable tourism,” Esgana said.
The Great Titan will run from May 15 t0 18 which include a beach flag race, rescue tube race plus the pool events including a 50-meter maniquin carry.
Deadline for the submission of entries will be on April 30.
Interested parties can send entries through the website at www.philippinelifesaving.org.
Santa Fe, despite being badly hit by typhoon Yolanda last year, is now on recovery stage and has recently launched “Summertime in Santa Fe." (rmn/FCC/PIA-Cebu)