SAN JUAN, La Union – The municipal government has limited surfing activities in this town dubbed as the surfing capital of the North due to bad weather and the death of a 12-year-old boy in a drowning incident on Tuesday, December 26.
Mayor Arturo Valdriz issued amended Executive Order 23A-2023 on Thursday stating that surfing activities are limited to the Kahuna Beach Resort and Spa in Barangay Urbiztondo, the lone area declared safe for water activities.
Valdriz on Wednesday issued EO23-2023 suspending all water activities in beaches here as a result of bad weather and the drowning incident in which a nine-year-old girl went missing.
The fatality was identified as Donayre Laigo of Barangay Palina, Kibungan, Benguet. The missing victim was identified as Zhary Yeisha of Barangay Palina.
Investigation said the victims were taken away by strong current while they were swimming on the beach.
A day later on December 27, two persons went missing while swimming in a beach in Barangay Urbiztondo here. Their four companions survived.
The missing was identified as Jedie Bangsail, 19, and John Brix Bello, 20, residents of Barangay Balacbac, Santo Tomas Proper, Baguio City.
Their companions were Jesica Opal-oy, 18, a student; Lloyd delos Reyes, 19, a student; Irish Paltican,17, a student; and Josie Teyamo, all residents of Barangay Balacbac, Santo Tomas Proper.
Meanwhile, two persons also drowned on the beaches of Bauang, La Union, and San Fabian, Pangasinan.
On December 26, Aira Mae Decena Velasquez, 13, student, from Barangay Pugo, Mangaldan, Pangasinan, drowned when she was taken away by the strong current while swimming on the beach in Barangay Nibaliw West, San Fabian.
Hazer Sangga-an, 16, a Grade 9 student of Barangay Tawang, La Trinidad, Benguet, drowned while saving his companions dragged by the strong current in Barangay Pugo, Bauang, on December 27.