ALARMED by increasing incidents of drowning at Bonuan Blue beach here, Tondaligan Park authorities urged visitors to observe all safety measures while swimming to prevent incidents of drowning in the area

Dino Zabala, administrator of the Tondaligan park covering the beach, said most of those drowning in the beach were usually intoxicated or took a dip in the water just after eating.

He said for year 2005, 19 persons already drowned at the beach, eight of them last December alone.

The number did not include a retiree who drowned in the beach on New Year’s Day but whose body has not been found yet.

He was identified as Apolinario Misa, 68, a native of Cebu but already a resident of Bonuan in Dagupan City and a retired civilian-employee of the Philippine Air Force.

Zabala said statistics compiled by his office showed that most of the drowning victims last year were drunk, violating a regulation in the beach against anyone intoxicated taking a dip in the water.

The Bonuan Blue Beach is the finest beach in the country, yet the visitors, especially from other places must observe regulations to avoid any accident, he said.

Zabala is now seeking the purchase of a water vehicle called jetski to be manned by trained personnel of the park who will patrol regularly in the swimming areas of the beach to ensure their safety.

He admitted that there is really a strong under-current called locally as “sabang” in Bonuan Blue Beach which swimming must be alert for.