CAMP OLA, Albay – The Police Regional Office (PRO)-5 reported that 15 persons drowned in the Bicol region during the observance of Holy Week.
Lt. Col. Malu Calubaquib, PRO-5 spokesperson, said one person drowned in Albay, four in Camarines Norte, nine in Camarines Sur, and one from Sorsogon from April 3 to April 9.
Calubaquib said a 21-year-old woman drowned on a river in Barangay Lidong, Santo Domingo, Albay.
In Camarines Norte, two persons drowned in a beach resort in Paracale and Daet and two in rivers.
Nine persons drowned in Camarines Sur.
In Sorsogon, a senior citizen from Metro Manila drowned after their boat capsized while on their way to the Matnog town proper from the Subic Beach Resort.
Police said that the cause of the incident was overloading.
The provincial tourism office of Sorsogon said the boat was unregistered and illegal and condemned the operator and boatmen for using it for island-hopping activities.
The Department of Tourism (DOT)-Bicol reminded every local government unit to be more proactive in their approach in ensuring the safety of tourists or visitors by assigning trained lifeguards, installing warning signs, and making life jackets and other floating devices available in their respective tourist areas, especially beaches and resorts.