Gatchalian pushes 'Lifeguard Act' to curb drowning incidents

PHILIPPINES, March 30 - Press Release
March 30, 2024

Following the start of the dry season when families usually go on outings, Senator Win Gatchalian pushes anew for the passage of the bill that will require public swimming pools and bathing facilities to employ lifeguards to curb drowning incidents.

"Taon-taon na lang, merong tayong nababalitaan na nalunod, lalo na ang mga kabataan. Kaya naman isinusulong natin ang pagkakaroon ng lifeguard sa bawat pampublikong swimming pool upang masugpo natin ang bilang ng mga aksidente o namamatay dahil sa pagkalunod," said Gatchalian.

Under his proposed Lifeguard Act of 2022 (Senate Bill No. 1142), pool operators are mandated to employ at least one certified lifeguard for each public swimming pool which is operated either for commercial purposes or free of charge, including but not limited to pools operated in hotels, inns, motels, condominium buildings, clubhouses, and any other public setting or residential setting other than a single-family home.

Gatchalian added that an additional lifeguard should be employed for every excess area of 250 square meters. These lifeguards must be duly certified by nationally recognized organizations accredited by the Department of Health (DOH).

In 2022, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that 3,576 deaths in the Philippines were due to drowning, with the highest number of cases recorded during March (317), April (391), and May (345). The World Health Organization also reported that drowning is one of the top five leading causes of death among children aged one to 14.

The proposed measure mandates pool operators to provide local government units (LGUs) with certifications and supporting documents to prove their engagement with the required number of lifeguards. LGUs, on the other hand, shall ensure the compliance of all public swimming pools. They should also conduct periodic local inspections coordinated by Local Health Officers, or other personnel deemed fit for the assignment. LGUs shall approve the permits of pool operators upon verification of certification and other supporting documents.

In the event of serious injury or death in a public swimming pool, pool operators who fail to employ the required number of lifeguards shall be imprisoned for not more than six months. They shall also pay a fine of not more than P200,000. LGU officials shall also be held administratively liable when they neglect to fulfill their duties. Lifeguards on duty who fail to protect persons from serious injury or death because of gross negligence or imprudence shall be imprisoned for not more than one year. They shall also pay a fine of not more than P200,000.

'Lifeguard Act' isinusulong ni Gatchalian upang sugpuin ang mga insidente ng pagkalunod

Kasunod ng pagpasok ng panahon ng tag-init kung saan madalas mag-outing ang mga pamilya, muling isinusulong ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang panukalang batas sa pagkakaroon ng lifeguards sa mga pampublikong swimming pools at bathing facilities. Layon ng panukalang batas na sugpuin ang bilang ng mga insidente ng pagkalunod.

Sa ilalim ng Lifeguard Act of 2022 (Senate Bill No. 1142), may mandato sa mga pool operator na magtalaga ng isang certified lifeguard para sa mga pampublikong swimming pool na ginagamit para sa negosyo o kaya naman ay ginagamit nang libre. Kabilang rito ang mga pool sa mga hotel, inn, mga motel, condominium buildings, clubhouses, at iba pang mga pampublikong lugar. Kabilang rito ang iba pang mga gusaling ginagamit bilang tirahan, maliban na lamang sa mga single-family home.

Sa bawat karagdagang 250 square meters, kakailanganin ang pagtatalaga ng karagdagang lifeguard. Dapat ding makatanggap ang mga lifeguard na ito ng naaayong certification mula sa mga pambansang organisasyong may accreditation mula sa Department of Health (DOH).

Noong 2022, iniulat ng Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) na 3,576 ang namatay sa Pilipinas dahil sa pagkakalunod. Pinakamaraming mga insidente ng pagkalunod ang naitala sa buwan ng Marso (317), Abril (391), at Mayo (345). Ayon pa sa World Health Organization, ang pagkalunod ang isa sa mga limang pangunahing sanhi ng pagkamatay sa mga batang may edad na isa hanggang 14.

Nakasaad din sa panukalang batas na dapat magbigay ang mga pool operators sa mga local government units (LGUs) ng certification at supporting documents upang patunayang nagtalaga sila ng kinakailangang bilang ng mga lifeguard. Mandato naman sa mga LGU na tiyaking sumusunod sa mga patakaran ang mga pampublikong swimming pool. Dapat din silang magsagawa ng mga regular na inspeksyon na pamumunuan ng mga Local Health Officers o iba pang opisyal na itinalaga ng LGU. Mga LGU rin ang mag-aapruba sa mga permit ng mga pool operator matapos suriin ang mga certification at iba pang supporting documents.

Sa ilalim pa rin ng panukala, kung may namatay o nagtamo ng serious injury sa isang public swimming pool, makukulong nang hindi lalagpas sa anim na buwan ang mga pool operators na nabigong magtalaga ng mga kinakailangang bilang ng mga lifeguard. Kakailanganin din nilang magbayad ng multa na hindi lalagpas sa P200,000. Magkakaroon din ng administrative liability ang mga opisyal ng LGU kung mapapatunayang nagpabaya sila sa pagpapatupad ng kanilang tungkulin. Maaari namang makulong nang hindi lalagpas sa isang taon ang mga lifeguard na bigong protektahan ang mga tao mula sa injury o kamatayan dahil sa gross negligence o imprudence. Magbabayad din sila ng multang hindi lalagpas sa P200,000.

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Gatchalian pushes 'Lifeguard Act' to curb drowning incidents

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