LAOAG CITY, March 15 -- Ilocos Norte is strictly enforcing the requirements for local lodging facilities that has swimming pool or body of water to have a lifeguard on duty and for children below 10 years old to wear life vest when swimming.

In a briefing on Friday, Dr. Medeldorf Gaoat, provincial board member and chair of the committee on health, said the requirements are part of the province's revised tourism code.

Also part of the new rules are for villages with rivers, creeks, dams and other recreational facilities to have trained watchers or first aid responders.

On Friday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire led stakeholders who conducted a briefing at the Teatro Ilocandia in Batac City, Ilocos Norte to promote drowning-...