SENATE Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano is pushing for a measure that would require tourism establishments to adopt mandatory emergency and risk mitigation plans to better protect children and other tourists.

Cayetano signed Senate Bill No. 1926 (Child Tourist Safety Act) under Committee Report No. 39, endorsing the proposed Child Tourist Safety Act, also known as “Sandy’s Act.”

“There’s no better gift to people than the Lord’s gift of children. It is our duty to protect them wherever they are,” Cayetano said.

The bill was inspired by the tragic story of Sandy Garovillas, a young girl who died in October 2023 after suffering a jellyfish sting at a resort. She reportedly did not receive immediate medical attention, underscoring the urgent need for stronger safety measures for minors in tourism areas.

“Sandy’s Act” seeks to strengthen prevention, mitigation, and emergency response to risks affecting minors while they are on vacation, participating in leisure activities, or engaging in tourism-related experiences.

The measure recognizes that children require special protection from neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other conditions that may endanger their well-being and development.

Under the proposed law, all tourism-related establishments that accept minors—whether accredited or not by the Department of Tourism—would be required to develop and implement a Tourism Emergency and Risk Mitigation Plan.

These plans must ensure access to adequate and age-appropriate medical and emergency services and provide safeguards against hazards such as marine dangers, drowning, abuse, exploitation, and trafficking.

Public tourism destinations such as beaches, waterfalls, and natural parks would fall under the responsibility of the concerned local government units.

The bill also directs key government agencies to jointly develop and maintain an annual Tourist Safety Risk Mapidentifying areas with hazards and threats to tourists, particularly children.

Among the agencies tasked to implement the measure are the Department of Tourism, Department of Health, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Council for the Welfare of Children, and Philippine Statistics Authority.