MANILA -- Sen. Raffy Tulfo sought the closure of a Subic beach resort where a five-year-old girl allegedly died after being stung by a jellyfish last year.

During Thursday’s hearing of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality on Senate Bill 2971 or the Child Tourist Safety Act also known as Sandy’s Act, Tulfo blasted the All Hands Beach resort for allegedly continuing to operate despite a cease and desist order.

“I want it shut down. At least man lang. Kasi matigas eh. Naglagay ng cease and desist order, tinanggal. Kita niyong napakatapang ng apog ng may-ari nito. Sino ba ito? Sino bang koneksyon niya?” Tulfo said.

“Insulto naman po may namatay na bata. … tapos we didn’t do so much,” he added.

In a letter read during the hearing, the mother of the victim, Jahaziel Maningding, said All Hands Beach resort supposedly failed to warn its guests about the presence of jellyfish in the area.

“There were no warning signs and no emergency protocols,” Maningding said in her letter. “No emergency vehicle provided.

“Even after my daughter’s death, the resort continued to operate in defiance of a cease and desist order,” she added.

Jellyfish thrive in the man-made disruption of the oceans

Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary Maria Rica Bueno said the resort was not accredited with their agency.

DOT also does not have jurisdiction on the resort, which is why it has recommended the case to the local government unit for possible closure, she said.

“The DOT can commit to really work closely with the LGU on this case,” Bueno said.

The All Hands Beach resort was not invited to the hearing.

SANDY GAROVILLAS

The story of six-year-old Sandy Garrovillas, whom the bill was named after, was also brought up.

Garrovillas died in 2023 due to jellyfish sting while vacationing in Ausan resort in Palawan. 

Her father, Edward, said they went to Palawan to celebrate the birthday of his wife. While their child was swimming near the shore, they heard her cry in pain and saw several tentacles on her arms and neck, he said.

“We took her out of the water, I was one of the first to approach her, nakita ko na na yung eyes niya went back at the back of her head,” Edward said.

“We were asking for help from the staff but the staff couldn’t provide any first aid. In fact ang naalala ko pa ngang sinabi nila, ‘Nagpapanic din po kami, Sir,’” he added.

The family received help from bystanders—a French medical student and an American medic—as well as from a midwife who offered oxygen.

Edward tried calling the Philippine Coast Guard but he could not reach its phone numbers.

They took Sandy to the nearest hospital which was 45 minutes away, but she was declared dead on arrival. 

The incident was doubly painful for the Garrovillas considering that Sandy has been fighting for her life ever since she was born with a congenital heart disease, swallowing disorder, and global development delay.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said it would look into the possibility of recommending the revocation of the business permit of Ausan resort. The resort was not invited to the hearing. 

Sandy’s parents thanked the committee for its push for the bill. 

“We are not saving us anymore, we are saving other people. For putting this law, maraming pamilya ang mase-save namin, mase-save nating lahat,” Sarah Garrovillas, Sandy’s mother, said.

7 anyos na bata patay matapos madikitan ng jellyfish sa CamSur

INTERVENTION

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), there were 10 deaths among children aged one to nine resulting from jellyfish sting in 2023.

The Department of Health (DOH) said it would draft the Healthy Tourism Framework to integrate the tourism sector into the public healthcare system.

Last year, DOH passed an administrative order creating an intra-agency working group to include other government agencies in ensuring the safety of local and foreign tourists.

Bueno said the DOT and DOH were establishing tourist first aid facilities which would act as an extension of barangay health centers.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, Chair of the Committee, emphasized the need to provide mechanisms to improve emergency response.

“Lubhang mabigat sa kalooban ang nangyari kina Sandy,” Hontiveros said. “Nararapat lamang na hinding hindi na ito maulit pa kaninoman.”