Davide Wants Town to Provide Tour Guides in Kawasan Falls After Visitor Drowns

Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale has advised the municipal government of Badian to deploy lifeguards and tourist guides at the town’s Kawasan Falls, following the death of a 21-year-old woman who drowned while taking selfies on her smartphone.

The Kawasan Falls is one of the tourist attractions in the southwestern Cebu town, some 115 kilometers from Cebu City.

Magpale, chair of Cebu Provincial Board’s committee on tourism, said having tour guides should be strictly implemented.

Geraldine Indig, a cashier of a mall in Cebu City, died in the hospital after she was believed to have lost her footing while standing on a rock and was carried away by the water’s current.

Indig, a Badian native, took a dip in the second falls with Abigail Llenos De Guzman, her fellow cashier from Barangay Pardo, Cebu City.

Indig and De Guzman, 25, reportedly did not hire a tour guide.

“There are tourists that do not have tour guides. We will be very strict that guests should have tour guides,” Magpale said.

The Cebu provincial government has planned to conduct tour guiding seminar to the towns, including Badian, to be headed by Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Baltazar Tribunalo Jr.

Magpale said she met the barangay and municipal officials in Alegria and Badian to tackle about the canyoneering activities in the area.

Magpale said this is their bigger worry because canyooneering is more dangerous.

She said they will provide hand-held radios and other gear to the local government units (LGUs) as part of protecting the tourists. (PNA) LAP/EB/RSM