Magpapatupad ang mga local organizer ng pinakamahuhusay na hakbang para sa kaligtasan, seguridad at kapakanan ng mga manlalangoy sa 4th Southeast Asia Open Water Swimming Championships mula Agosto 21 hanggang 23 sa Boracay Newcoast sa Malay, Aklan.
“The safety of all our athletes is our top priority now, ensuring they will have a secure and safe environment during the competition,” pahayag ni Philippine Aquatics Inc. (PAI) vice president Jojo Quilop kasunod ng interagency coordinating meeting.
“What PAI and the local organizing committee have done is submit a comprehensive plan to Asia Aquatics on the safety protocols, including how many kayaks, rubber life boats and jet skis that will be required for the meet, for its approval,” dagdag ni Quilop.
Susuportahan din ng Philippine Coast Guard at Philippine National Police ang torneo.
“We also are looking at whatever loopholes that are left so that our safety measures are airtight,” ani Quilop. “Meetings with the provincial risk reduction and management officials of Aklan have taken place while we will have another meeting with the municipal risk reduction and management officials.”
Ang unang international open water swimming meet na iho-host ng bansa ay gaganapin sa loob ng cove ng sikat na resort island, kung saan mas kalmado ang tubig at panahon.
Bilang karagdagang hakbang, tutulong ang Philippine Life Saving Society, na magpapadala ng limang bihasang lifeguard habang isinasagawa ang mga karera.
“One of Philippine Life Saving’s 68 centers nationwide is in Boracay so we will send five volunteer lifeguards daily during the competition to supplement and complement whatever safety requirements that are needed by the organizers,” ani Philippine Life Saving secretary general DJ Salonga.
“All of these lifeguard volunteers have undergone intensive training and been awarded Philippine lifesaving certificates for undergoing our lifesaving course,” dagdag ni Salonga. “We are only too glad to offer our help for this international open water swimming event.”
Sinabi ni Quilop na bukod sa mga hakbang pangkaligtasan para sa mga kalahok ng 4th Southeast Asia Open Water Swimming Championships, pangangalagaan din nila ang ecological at marine environment.
“We are conscious of Boracay’s reputation as top tourist destination of our country kaya nais namin mapanatili ang katayuang iyon,” ani Quilop.
Magpapadala ng mga koponan ang 11 kasapi (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, Myanmar at Pilipinas) ng Southeast Asian Swimming Federation, na siyang nagbibigay ng sanction sa kampeonato.
“This sporting event not only advances the growth of open water swimming in Southeast Asia, but also shines a spotlight on Boracay island as a true gem of the region, while reflecting the warmth and hospitality of the Filipino people,” ani PAI president Michael Vargas.
Dahil unang beses na gaganapin Pilipinas, nais ni Quilop na maging “best hosting” ito ng Southeast Asia Open Water Swimming Championships.
“The idea of PAI is that this will be just the first of many more international open water swimming events considering that we have 7,100 islands all over the country,” ani Quilop.