Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 27) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has temporarily suspended all dragon boat race activities in Boracay island in Malay, Aklan.
This is in the wake of seven members of a dragon boat group who died when their boat capsized after it struck by big waves Wednesday. The group trained for an upcoming international competition in Taiwan.
READ: 7 dead as dragon boat capsizes in Boracay
In a statement Friday, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said dragon boat activities in the tourist destination are “postponed for the time being until emergency protocols are thoroughly scrutinized.”
“We are temporarily suspending all dragon boat race activities in Boracay, including practice and training, until we have assessed their practice protocols,” he said.
The DENR said officials from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Tourism, Malay local government, Philippine National Police Maritme Group, as well as dragon boat associations and other water sports associations will meet on September 30 “to conduct a comprehensive assessment of protocols, logistics and resources, and to come up with recommendations to address gaps.”
Cimatu had earlier vowed to strengthen emergency response programs in Boracay to prevent a similar incident.
