Mark Villar welcomes passage of Child Tourist Safety Act

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Mark Villar welcomed on Wednesday the recent passage on third reading at the Senate of the proposed Child Tourist Safety Act (Senate Bill No. 1926), which seeks to strengthen safety standards, emergency preparedness, and access to medical assistance in tourism destinations.

The bill is also known as “Sandy’s Act,” after six-year-old Sandy O. Garovillas, who suffered a fatal allergic reaction after being stung by a jellyfish in Port Barton, San Vicente, Palawan, in 2023.

“Sandy is only one of many nameless tourists who met their end while vacationing in spots lacking immediate medical aid and emergency response,” Villar added.

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READ: Dead victim’s parents seek passage of ‘Sandy’s Act’

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Under the proposed measure, identified tourism zones will be required to have stronger safety mechanisms, emergency preparedness, and access to immediate medical response and resources.

According to Villar, these safeguards are vital as the country seeks to strengthen its tourism industry.

“Through Sandy’s Act, we will institutionalize immediate medical response and resources in identified tourism zones, so that we can avoid a repetition of what happened to Sandy and others,” Villar said.

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“Stronger safety measures will not only protect tourists and families but also help boost confidence in Philippine tourism destinations,” he added. /atm