(Eagle News) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has announced the “temporary suspension of all dragon boat race activities in Boracay” following the tragic accident that claimed the lives of seven members of the Boracay dragon boat team on Wednesday.
Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu made the announcement saying that dragon boat activities in the famous tourist destination are “postponed for the time being until emergency protocols are thoroughly scrutinized.”
“We are temporarily suspending all dragon boat race activities in Boracay, including practice and training, until we have assessed their practice protocols,” said Cimatu who heads the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF).
Cimatu expressed his sympathies to the families of the seven Boracay dragon boat team members who died on Sept. 25.
Fourteen of the Boracay Dragon Force members were also injured when their boat capsized off Boracay Island.
The group was then training for an upcoming international competition in Taiwan.
Based on reports, the boat capsized after it was hit by large waves caused by strong winds as the dragon boat racers were trying to reach the third bay of Tulubhan Beach in Barangay Manocmanoc.
Cimatu said that all agencies involved in emergency rescue and response are scheduled to meet on Monday, Sept. 30 for a comprehensive assessment of protocols, logistics and resources.
Among the agencies that will take part in the Sept. 30 meeting are the local government of Malay and its Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Philippine National Police Maritime Group, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Tourism, the local dragon boat associations and other water sports associations in the Philippines.
The meeting aims to come up with guidelines so that there would be no repeat of such tragedies.