Boracay: Optimum measures will be implemented for the safety, security, and well-being of participants in the 4th Southeast Asia Open Water Swimming Championships on Aug. 21-23 at the Boracay Newcoast in Malay, Aklan. 'The safety of all our athletes is our top priority now, ensuring they will have a secure and safety environment during the competition,' Philippine Aquatics Inc. (PAI) Vice President Jojo Quilop said in a news release Thursday.
According to Philippines News Agency, what PAI and the local organizing committee have done is submit a comprehensive plan to Asia Aquatics on the safety protocols, including how many kayaks, rubber life boats, and jet skis that will be required for the meet, for its approval," added Quilop, who attended the recent interagency coordinating meeting for the event. 'We also are looking at whatever loopholes that are left so that our safety measures are airtight,' he added.
Quilop said they will also be supported by the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine National Police once the regional open water showcase unfolds. 'Meetings with the provincial risk reduction and management officials of Aklan have taken place while next week we will have another meeting with the municipal risk reduction and management officials,' he said.
Quilop noted that the inaugural international open water swimming meet that the country will host would be within the popular resort island's cove 'so that the waters and weather will be calmer compared to the other side of Boracay.'
Supplementing these measures is the assistance of Philippine Lifesaving, which will send five highly trained lifeguards daily while the races are going on. 'One of Philippine Lifesaving's 68 centers nationwide is in Boracay, so we will send five volunteer lifeguards daily during the competition to supplement and complement whatever safety requirements that are needed by the organizers,' Philippine Lifesaving Secretary General DJ Salonga said.
'All of these lifeguard volunteers have undergone intensive training and awarded Philippine Lifesaving certificates for undergoing our lifesaving course. We are only too glad to offer our help for this international open water swimming event," he added.
Quilop said that besides the safety measures for participants of the 4th Southeast Asia Open Water Swimming Championships, they are also taking steps to preserve and protect the ecological and marine environment while we are there. 'We are conscious of Boracay's reputation as a top tourist destination of our country so we want to maintain that status. This is the first time the Philippines will host the 4th Southeast Asia Open Water Swimming Championships and we want this to be the best hosting," stressed Quilop.
'The idea of PAI is that this will be just the first of many more international open water swimming events considering that we have 7,100 islands all over the country," he added.
