EDITORIAL - Keeping our tourists safe

Fourteen foreign tourists were injured in vehicular accidents here recently.

Early morning last Saturday in Barangay Lagtang, Naga City Japanese nationals Arai Maho, Matsuyama Seina, Mamba Kei, Manami Komatsu, Murakawa Ran, Shoma Minamitani, Taiyo Ishihara, Fumiya Taniguchi, Tenyo Hirai, Kohsei Oka, Junya Shimomura, Kotaro Hashimoto, and Kosei, Yoshida were injured after their tourist van hit a truck delivering tires.

Also injured in the accident were their Filipina tourist guide Michelle Apawan, 33, and the van’s driver Baby June Fabillar Limpag, 43. Truck driver Randy Ypil Lato, 29, and his truck boy were not hurt in the accident.

The previous day, Australian national Savannah Ruby Miller and Angel Chi Ahit Aranquez, both 19, were injured after their motorcycle hit a truck in Barangay Malabago, Badian town.

Miller, who was driving the motorcycle, fractured her leg and suffered injuries to her face while Aranquez sustained only minor injuries.

The accident allegedly happened after Miller entered the opposite lane and hit the truck driven by Edilberto Sanchez Andong Jr., 53, a resident of Barangay Sto. Niño, Malabuyoc, Cebu.

Both incidents involved vehicles carrying tourists colliding with trucks. However, we do not have enough details to say who was at fault, whether it was the truck drivers or the other drivers. However, one thing we know is that we must do our utmost to make sure our tourists stay safe.

Tourists are more likely to get into accidents than locals. They don’t know where the high-risk, dangerous, or accident-prone areas are on a highway or in any neighborhood, they may not know how local drivers generally behave, or even know what side of the road to drive on.

When they get into accidents they are in an even worse spot than locals. They may not know where the closest hospital is or where to quickly go for help. They aren’t likely to have people ready to watch over or attend to them in the hospital as they recuperate from an injury.

Tourism is a main driver of the local economy. We should make sure tourists stay safe while they are here, whether it’s making sure that tourist van drivers are fully accredited and knowledgeable in their jobs, making sure our local drivers know where tourists and tourist vehicles frequent, making sure that tourists themselves are made aware of accident-prone areas, and whatever else that needs to be done.