Philippines to Enhance Tourist Safety with New First Aid Facilities at Major Beaches

MAKATI CITY — In an effort to improve emergency response and healthcare accessibility at popular beach destinations, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced plans on Monday to establish dedicated first aid facilities and booths at several major tourist sites across the country.

According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative involves a collaborative memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with the Department of Health and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA). The agreement will facilitate the construction of tourist first aid facilities in key locations such as Boracay, La Union, Panglao in Bohol, Siargao, Palawan, and Puerto Galera, which are recognized for their limited healthcare resources. Frasco highlighted during the ceremonial signing that these facilities are designed to provide immediate medical assistance to tourists facing any accidents or injuries, ensuring a robust emergency response system on the islands.

The planned facilities are not only meant for emergency medical care but will also include preventive measures. They are to be equipped with well-trained healthcare personnel and essential medical supplies, including automated external defibrillators and first aid kits. Additionally, the second floors of these facilities will function as lifeguard stations or viewing decks to monitor tourist safety more effectively.

Moreover, the DOT’s strategy includes setting up solar-powered first aid booths along beachfronts. These booths will be equipped with first aid supplies, a pullout stretcher, a CCTV camera, and a two-way communication system linked to a command center for handling distress calls. This system aims to address medical concerns swiftly and efficiently without necessarily involving direct medical personnel intervention.

The funding for this project was secured on May 2, when the TIEZA Board of Directors approved and appropriated PHP47.5 million for the initial batch of tourist first aid facilities and booths, marking a significant investment in enhancing tourist safety and healthcare accessibility at some of the Philippines’ most visited beaches.