A Walk for Safety and Unity (Tanay, Rizal)

Walk for Safety and Unity

Last April 5, the DOT Region 4-A led by Dir. Rebecca Villanueva-Labit, the Rizal Provincial Government, Tanay LGU led by Mayor Rex Manuel C. Tanjuatco launched the "A WALK FOR SAFETY AND UNITY," a campaign to lift the moratorium on field trips imposed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Department of Education (DepEd) in wake of the tragic bus mishap in Tanay, Rizal which killed 15 people (14 students and the bus driver) last February 21. 

Barker Hall Basketball Court

Chapel of Our Lady of Queen of
Heaven and Earth

At 7 AM, tourism officers, travel agencies, tour operators, academe, tour guides and tourism stakeholders marched from the main road to EPIC PARC Rainforest Camp in Sitio Bayucan, Brgy. Sampaloc.  After a mass held at the Chapel of Our Lady of Queen of Heaven and Earth, a press conference was held at the Barker Hall Basketball Court.   

Mass attendees at Chapel of Our Lady of Queen of Heaven and Earth

Mayor Rex Tanjuatco

Dir. Rebecca Labit

At the presscon were Dir. Labit, Mayor Tanjuatco, Mr. Dong Malonzo (Rizal Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Chief), Dr. Oliva de Leon (Rizal Provincial Board Member), Engr. Carlos Inofre, Jr. (Chief of the Tanay Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office) and Mr. Rommel Ayuson (Rizal Provincial Board Member).  

In her speech, Dir. Labit lamented that because of the bus driver’s human error, the town of Tanay, as well as other LGUs benefitting from field trips and educational tours, suffered due to the moratorium. A meeting with DepEd and CHED, regarding the moratorium, will be held in June.  She also answered questions regarding DOT accreditation.

Mayor Tanjuatco, on the other hand, commended the  Rizal Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO)  and Tanay Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRM) for their quick response  during the accident, bringing the wounded to the hospital and preventing further loss of life. He too lamented the municipality’s loss of income and opportunity due to the incident. 

Press conference, L-R: Mr. Dong Malonzo, Ms. Oliva de Leon, Mayor Rex Tanjuatco, Dir. Rebecca Labit, Mr. Rommel Ayuson and Engr. Carlos Inofre

After the "Walk for Safety," travel agencies and tour operators participated in the free familiarization tour, from 1 PM to 5 PM, visiting Regina Rica, Calinawan Cave, and Daranak Falls plus site visits to hotels and restaurants of Tanay.