DOT assures public of medical services in top tourist destinations

The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Wednesday assured the public that it is working to have medical services available in the country’s top tourist destinations.

After a recent incident involving supermodel Kelsey Merritt’s boyfriend, who sustained a head injury in Siargao, Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said they have already gotten in touch with the local government unit.

“We’ve already contacted local government especially in Siargao. They’ve already instructed all the municipalities, especially all the mayors, na dapat may doctors and nurses available," she said in a news forum.

"This is a high tourist season, dapat available siya."

Romulo-Puyat said areas of particular concern are Siargao and Boracay because other popular summer destinations — Cebu, Bohol, Palawan — already have hospitals.

“With regard to Boracay, they’re already building a hospital, supposedly by June,” she said.

Tourism Assistant Secretary Maria Rica Bueno said that in anticipation of the tourist influx this summer, they issued an advisory to their regional offices two weeks ago to “set up the emergency care systems and facilities as well as safety and security measures in these tourist destinations.”

“Rest assured our regional offices are really closely coordinating this on the ground sa respective local government units,” she said, adding there should be doctor and nurse stations and 24/7 peace and order monitoring in these municipalities.

Bueno also said LGUs usually activate their rescue systems during peak seasons, particularly summer.

If there are no near hospitals, the LGUs should have a first aid facility set up, in coordination with their rescue and emergency teams on the ground.

As part of their accreditation, hotels and resorts should also have a trained first aid staff.

“Yun yung ating mga first emergency response kung saka-sakaling may mangyari,” Bueno said. —KBK, GMA News