ANTIQUE — The Provincial Government of Antique is stepping up its drowning prevention program by convening a learning conference, strengthening local water safety initiatives, and deploying an Australian volunteer to help reduce drowning-related deaths in the province.
The intensified campaign comes as the Office of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (OPDRRMO) recorded a high number of drowning incidents over the past several years, with authorities anticipating more water-related emergencies during the rainy season.
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Broderick Train said records from 2019 to 2025 showed that 192, or 85 percent, of drowning incidents occurred in open seas, rivers, and streams. The province also recorded 77 fatal drowning incidents during the same period, while 2022 posted the highest number of flood-related drowning deaths with 18 fatalities, some during the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng.”
In response, the OPDRRMO has partnered with Surf Life Saving Philippines Inc. (SLSP) and the South East Asia Lifesaving (SEAL) Network to hold the 2026 World Drowning Prevention Learning Conference on July 7 as part of National Disaster Resilience Month and the observance of World Drowning Prevention Day on July 29.
Train said the conference aims to strengthen the province’s drowning prevention program, establish an interim Local Government Unit Drowning Prevention Council, and formulate an LGU Drowning Prevention Plan to address longstanding public safety gaps.
Among the issues identified is the shortage of trained lifeguards and volunteer lifesavers in inland and coastal resorts and other recreational areas, which Train attributed to the absence of a governing agency responsible for certifying lifeguards and lifesavers.
Members of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, local government units, uniformed services, and the academe are expected to participate in the conference and become part of the proposed Drowning Prevention Council.
To further boost local capabilities, the provincial government requested technical assistance from the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA), resulting in the deployment of Australian volunteer David Field, a veteran surf lifesaver and lifeguard trainer specializing in water safety, lifesaving, and lifeguarding.
Field will serve in Antique for three months, focusing on training provincial personnel before expanding capacity-building activities to schools, disaster risk reduction and management offices, local government units, and other sectors throughout the province.
Initial training sessions will be conducted at the Binirayan Sports Complex and selected coastal areas in San Jose de Buenavista before the program is rolled out to municipalities and communities. The training will be tailored to the specific water-related hazards faced by each locality.
Gov. Paolo Javier said strengthening disaster preparedness through community-based lifesaving initiatives is vital in protecting residents during emergencies and natural disasters.
Train also reminded residents, particularly those living in flood-prone communities, to avoid crossing swollen rivers or floodwaters to check on crops or rescue livestock, noting that such situations have contributed to many drowning incidents.
He said the OPDRRMO continues to coordinate with local government units to ensure weather advisories and flood warnings reach even remote communities through sustained information dissemination and community-based communication efforts./PN
