THE drowning of 10 vacationists in various rivers and beaches of Pangasinan on Holy Week should serve as a wake up call to local government units (LGUs) in Pangasinan to enact ordinances that will ensure the safety of tourists going to their places.

This was underscored by P/Chief inspector Norman Florentino, chief of the Pangasinan Police Community Relations, who noted that most of the drowning victims in the last Holy Week were under the influence of liquor and did their swimming in rivers.

He said without an ordinance enacted by Local Government Units for the police to implement, they can not confiscate intoxicating drinks being brought by tourists in places where they intend to swim or spend few hours of fund and relaxation.

The purpose of people in going to a place is to have a picnic, swim and have some fun and many consider drinking of liquor is a form of fun, said Florentino.

No drowning happened in the beaches of Pangasinan where personnel of PDRRMC, including the Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) were on guard.

But drowning occurred because the victims refused to heed warnings.

Drinking in the Lingayen Beach was strictly prohibited during the holiday even in the absence of an ordinance banning liquor in the area.

No drowning also occurred at Tondaligan Beach in Dagupan because the city government stationed in seven beach towards and members of the CDRRMO were constantly patrolling in the beach’s no swimming zone. (Leonardo Micua)

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