The safety of tourists who are expected to flock this summer and fiesta month of May to the world famous Chocolate Hills and Loboc River Cruise is being demanded from authorities by the Provincial Tourism Council. (PTC).
The call for safety and precautionary measures was issued by PTC Chair Peter Dejaresco following the recent road accident involving a Korean tourist who was about to take lunch at the Loboc River Cruise last Sunday.
The Korean national identified as Ji Kyung-A, 36, of South Korea was hit by a speeding motorcycle while crossing the national highway to the Long River Cruise floating restaurant. He was with seven other Korean tourists who aborted their leisure river cruise and instead rushed the victim to the Ramiro Hospital where he was admitted due to his 12-stetch head injury.
Iyan Cainglet, a DOT accredited guide told the Chronicle that the tour of the Korean nationals was arranged by Alona Kew Beach Resort where the guests were billeted. He said the victim's head was profusely bleeding when his friends rushed him to the hospital. The guide failed to escort the tourists as he was with the Loboc PNP to record the incident.
Another matter of concern during this peak season is the Chocolate Hills complex where vans and cars are again allowed to park alongside the steep winding road leading the view deck and restaurant atop a hill.
Bernard Marasigan, operations manager of OceanJet fast ferry complained on the great risk of incoming vehicles since only one lane is left while the other side is occupied by parked vans and cars. He saw the traffic mess at the complex when he escorted some guests last Monday.
The PTC during an earlier request made with the Carmen local government requested that vehicles will be allowed at the complex just to drop-off their guests while a parking area be provided down the hill. Drivers will just be called once their guests will be ready for pick-up on their way out from the complex.
The PTC chair reminded the Carmen LGU and the PNP to strictly re-implement the agreement of not allowing vehicles to park alongside the hill to avoid accidents. He feared that if this will not be checked, vehicles which might encounter engine or brake problems will slid down the winding road hitting other incoming vehicles.
LOBOC's ACTION
Loboc Mayor Leon Calipusan convened the town's police last Monday to immediately address the concern raised by tour operators after the incident.
During an interview over dyRD's top-rated Inyong Alagad yesterday, Calipusan said that two policemen are now being detailed at the floating restaurant's docking area to enforce a one-side parking policy.
A designated free parking area near the town's new public market is also provided to reduce the congestion in the narrow highway.
While some river cruise operators do not have parking spaces, Calipusan appealed to tour operators not to drop and pick up tourists near the docking area.
Calipusan pointed out that once the floating restaurants will be docking at the new port and tourist complex across the present docking area the congestion will be solved.
River cruise operators have not transferred docking to the new facility as the Bailey bridge going to the complex has yet to be repaired to accommodate big tourist buses.
According to Calipusan, funding, in the amount of P1.5 million, has been released for the bridge rehabilitation but the DPWH was not able to start the rehabilitation until election ban came.
Meanwhile, a motorcycle backrider was killed after colliding head-on with a tourist bus of NF Tours at the Tagbilaran City Port last Tuesday.
The victim, Leandro Ayade, 19, a resident of barangay Minol, Mabini town, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital.
According to SPO3 Joaquin Adayo, the victim was riding with one Jesus Bandoy, 23, of barangay Dasitam, Baclayon, owner of the motorcycle. Bandoy did not have any serious injuries while Ayade died on the spot.
The tourist bus was driven by one Wenceslao Escuadro Jr., 37, resident of barangay Salvador, Cortes town. He is now facing charges of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide. (Kit Bagaipo)
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Published in the Bohol Chronicle, 5/2/2007
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