With many people expected to hit the beach during the Holy Week break and in succeeding months, authorities stressed the importance of safety, especially among children.

Data gathered by the Department of Health (DOH)-6, at least eight people drowned in Western Visayas in 2025.

Meanwhile, based on a national online survey, most of those who often drown are children between one to four years old.

Since most children in this age group still do not know how to swim, supervision is key for their safety, said Penny Exocet Hubag of the Health Promotion and Communications Management Section of DOH-6.

The same applies for children swimming in rivers and streams.

“Supervision talaga kung maliliit pa ang mga kabataan. Bantayan especially sa beach or mga ilog ngayong Holy Week,” Hubag said.

Even for adults, DOH advised using a swim tube or a life vest if the person does not know how to swim. The agency also advised against getting drunk.

“Alam naman natin kung mag-summer na, part siya na, of course, merrymaking, pumupunta sa mga beach. Mag-enjoy lang tayo sa paglangoy basta hindi lang intoxicated with alcohol,” Hubag said.