THE city government here has announced, there was zero or no drowning incident in Dagupan’s Blue Beach during the Holy Week.
Alvin Fernandez, City Administrator, attributed the zero drowning to the all-out efforts of various agencies of the city government, including the volunteerism of the city government.

Fernandez said lifeguards rescued four people when they almost got drowned while swimming in the beach.

As in previous Holy Weeks, the Dagupan beach was swarmed by thousands of people, many of them visitors, who took a dip in the cool invigorating water of Lingayen Gulf in order to beat the intense summer’s heat.

Fernandez said involved in “Oplan Semana Santa” Mayor’s Office, Police, Public Order and Safety Office (POSO), Dagupan Marshals, Philippine National Red Cross, Special Operations Group, Coast Guard, DeltaCom, Tondaligan Park Shed owners and the Tondaligan Park Administration Office.

They set up watch towers along the beach manned by life guards to be able to respond to any call for emergency assistance at any time.

Signages put up in many conspicuous places warning that it is prohibited to swim when one is drunk and for people not to liter their garbage, greatly helped impose discipline among beachgoers.

Saying that Oplan Semana Santa was so successful, Fernandez said this could serve as a dry run for another big operations come May 1 during the city’s celebration of “Pista ng Dagat”.
During the “Pista ng Dagat, which is incorporated in the city’s Bangus Festival”, an even bigger crowd of beachcombers is expected. (PNA)