CEBU CITY – Diving decompression chambers will soon be activated in Panglao, one of the prime diving spots in Bohol province.
The Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) on Thursday, Feb. 2, agreed to form a technical group to operationalize the diving decompression chambers in Panglao as a safety measure for divers.
PPOC approved a motion that seeks to prioritize diving safety by creating a technical group.
The local government of Panglao, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, Provincial Health Office, and Bohol Provincial Tourism Office will collaborate to operationalize the hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers in Panglao, said Provincial Administrator Asteria Caberte.
Also known as a diving chamber, the facility will serve as a temporary dry environment that provides breathing gas for the occupants. Diving decompression chambers are also used in emergencies such as carbon monoxide poisoning and lack of oxygen.
Caberte said the PPOC has to present an operational plan by Feb. 15.
Caberte explained that adding more measures will help ensure the success of the province’s tourism. She said safety measures can influence tourists’ decisions on which areas they want to visit.
“We always promote Bohol as a prime tourist destination, but we cannot do anything if incidents occur due to the lack of safety measures,” Caberte said.
PPOC is hoping that creating a technical operation group can prevent scuba diving-related accidents in Panglao.
Caberte said PPOC will look into the possibility of adding more diving chambers in nine other diving areas outside of Panglao.