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E. Visayas bans water-based tourism activities due to typhoon

By Sarwell Meniano

December 15, 2021, 4:05 pm

<p><strong>PREPAREDNESS</strong>. The regional tourism office in Tacloban City. The agency on Wednesday (Dec. 15, 2021) urged industry partners to ensure the safety of tourists and secure their properties from the threats of Typhoon Odette. <em>(PNA file photo)</em></p>

PREPAREDNESS. The regional tourism office in Tacloban City. The agency on Wednesday (Dec. 15, 2021) urged industry partners to ensure the safety of tourists and secure their properties from the threats of Typhoon Odette. (PNA file photo)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Tourism (DOT) has urged industry partners to ensure the safety of tourists and secure their properties from the threats of Typhoon Odette.

DOT 8 (Eastern Visayas) Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said on Wednesday tourism-related businesses should prepare for the typhoon’s wrath by implementing precautionary measures and coming up with emergency plans.

She added that they have sent an advisory to industry partners, outlining tourism activities that should be avoided ahead of the typhoon’s landfall.

“We asked the management to advise guests to refrain from all types of water-based activities to include, but not limited to, boating, island visits, swimming, diving, snorkeling, surfing, skimboarding, kayaking, jet-skiing, and river rafting,” Tiopes said in a phone interview.

Also prohibited are all types of outdoor or adventure activities, among them trekking, mountain climbing, caving, zip line ride, bouldering, and visits to landslide- and flashflood-prone areas.

“The DOT also advised them to reinforce or secure any structure, facility, trees, implements, equipment, gears within your property or tourism site that may potentially cause bodily injuries, damage to property, or loss of life,” she added.

The tourism department reminded establishments to make sure of the availability of first aid kits, flashlights, emergency lights, ample supply of potable water and food, and other supplies that may be of use in case of injuries, power outages, and floods.

Aside from regularly monitoring typhoon updates from the weather bureau and local authorities, the DOT also asked businesses to keep the contact numbers of the local disaster risk reduction and management offices and rescue teams.

As of Wednesday noon, the center of the typhoon was estimated at 590 km. east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph. It was moving west at 20 kph. (PNA)

 

 

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