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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider House panel approves mandatory lifeguards bill

House panel approves mandatory lifeguards bill

Published Feb 20, 2020 12:00 am
By Charissa Luci-Atienza The House Committee on Tourism has approved a bill mandating hotels and resorts with swimming pools and beach fronts to employ lifeguards. The Joint Session of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the extension of Martial Law in Mindanao commences in the Plenary of the Batasang Pambansa on December 13, 2017. (ALVIN KASIBAN / MANILA BULLETIN) (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) The House panel, chaired by Laguna 3rd district Rep. Sol Aragones, passed House Bill No. 5523, principally authored by Aragones. “This proposal seeks to ensure the safety of swimming pools and beach fronts in hotels and resorts by mandating the presence of at least one lifeguard for every 250 square meters of swimming area. The bill also provides for penalties for establishments who fail to comply with the requirement of the law,” Aragones said. She said the existing regulations that provide for the safety of guests in swimming facilities are often not complied with, and are ignored by hotels and resorts. “It is hoped that in this proposal, the injuries and accidents are minimized, if not totally avoided, through the presence of a well-equipped and certified lifeguard. Rest and relaxation should be a pleasant experience and not a tragic one,” she said. Under HB No. 5523 or the proposed Lifeguard Act, every hotel or resort with swimming pools or beach fronts shall be required to employ at least one certified lifeguard for every 250 square meters of swimming pool or beach front area during all hours of operation. The bill tasks the local government units (LGUs) to ensure compliance of the hotels and resorts by conducting periodic local inspections. The lifeguards shall be certified by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), it said. HB 5523 provides that a hotel or resort that fails to employ the required number of lifeguards shall pay a fine of P20,000 and its operating permit shall be suspended for 60 days. For second-time violators, a fine amounting to P50,000 and suspension of operating permit for 120 days shall be slapped. Upon the third violation of the proposed Act, the operator shall pay a fine of P100,000 and the operating permit of the facility shall be revoked, the bill said. In the event of serious injury or death of any person, a fine of P200,000 and six months of imprisonment shall be imposed against the violators. The LGU official responsible for the inspection of the hotel or resort shall be administratively held liable if the hotel or hotel was able to continue its operations due to refusal, omission, or neglect to fulfill their duty, according to HB 5523. Any on-duty lifeguard who through gross negligence or imprudence fails to protect the hotel or resort guest from injury and death shall pay a fine of P200,000 and shall be sentenced to one year of imprisonment. The hotel or resort and the lifeguard shall be held jointly and solidarity liable for any civil liabilities imposed as a result of the negligent or imprudent act, the bill said. HB 5523 tasks the Department of Tourism (DOT), in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Health (DOH), to promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of the proposed Act within 90 days from its enactment.
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