Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Thursday pushed for a proposed legislation aimed at reducing child deaths and injuries related to tourism activities in the country.
“Visitors to tourist destinations, particularly children, face risks associated with accidental drownings, jellyfish stings and animal bites, spinal injuries, and infectious diseases while on vacation,” she explained.
Hontiveros, who leads the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, presented Senate Bill No. 2971, also known as the Child Tourist Safety Act, to address this dilemma.
The proposal is also known as “Sandy’s Bill,” named after six-year-old Sandy Garovillas, who died from a box jellyfish sting after failing to receive immediate medical attention at a Palawan resort.
SB 2971 seeks to require tourism establishments to provide minors and other guests with adequate and age-appropriate medical, emergency, and health care services.
“According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, out of the 3,604 deaths by accidental drowning or submersion in 2021, 1,056 or roughly a third of the victims were children 1-14 years of age,” the senator cited.
“In that year, drowning was the second leading cause of death among children 5-9 years old,” she continued.
Hontiveros pointed out that according to the Department of Tourism, tourism contributed 8.6% to the country’s gross domestic product, amounting to ₱2.09 trillion in 2023.
Despite its economic benefits, Hontiveros emphasized the need for ensuring better medical preparedness in tourist establishments.
She called on her fellow lawmakers to support the bill’s swift passage, adding that the proposed legislation could boost confidence in the tourism industry by reassuring families of their safety while traveling.
