Bohol’s Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) forms a technical group to operationalize the diving decompression chambers in Panglao as a safety measure for divers.

During this year’s second PPOC meeting, members approved a motion prioritizing diving safety by creating a technical group, looking into collaborating with LGU Panglao, PNP, the Philippine Coast Guard, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, Provincial Health Office, and Bohol Provincial Tourism Office to operationalize the hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers in Panglao.

Also known as a diving chamber, it serves as a temporary dry environment that provides breathing gas for the occupants, used in emergencies such as carbon monoxide poisoning and lack of oxygen. Provincial Administrator Asteria Caberte says that PPOC has to present an operational plan by February 15.

She explained that adding more measures can ensure the success and failure of the province’s tourism as safety problems can influence tourists’ decisions on which areas they want to visit.

“We are always promoting Bohol as a prime tourist destination, but we cannot do anything if incidents occur due to the lack of safety measures for tourists to enjoy their stay here,” Caberte said.

PPOC hopes creating a technical operation group can prevent more scuba diving-related accidents in Panglao. PA Caberte added that they will look into adding more diving chambers in 9 diving areas outside of Panglao.