Cordova’s public beach reopens

CEBU, Philippines —  Cordova town officials led the ceremonial swim at Bantayan Bay as it reopened Sunday.

Joining Mayor Cesar "Didoy" Suan were Vice Mayor Victor Tago; municipal consultant Marven Pañares; Market Administrator Allan Tiro, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief Fred Anlocotan, and Cordova Marine Watch chief Rogelio Saquilabon.

The bay reopened barely 11 months after it was ordered closed by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia due to its high level of fecal coliform.

Suan, in his speech during the reopening, said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources already declared that the public beach is safe for swimming.

In line with the reopening, the mayor has set some ground rules such especially to the “bangkeros” to maintain the beach cleanliness.

Suan said that the bangkeros should make sure that no beachgoers would throw garbage anywhere. He also bans drinking of liquor and cooking while on board the banca, among others.

“Ang kaning gihimo nato karon kay temporary reopening pa lang ni kay ato pa gyud kining i-develop pa para mas mo nindot,” said the mayor.

He warned that if cleanliness is not maintained, he will order for the bay’s closure.

Suan said that the bangkeros will also be trained by the municipality on customer service so that tourists would keep coming back not because of the nice beach but also of good customer relations.

“Kung makakita mo og mga local tourists nga pataka lang og labay sa ilang basura, inyuha silang buyagon og tarong lang sad, dili lang pud ninyo kasab-an. Unya og makakita mo og basura nga gilabay sa dagat sa inyong mga pasahero,  inyuha kanang pahimangnoan sila nga dili magpataka og labay. Unya pagdala na lang sad mo og sikpaw aron dali ra makuha ang basura nga gilabay sa dagat,” said the mayor as the bangkeros wil undergo such training of good costumer relation in two weeks time.

The mayor said that the municipality will not be collecting any payment for one month. But after that period, an environmental fee will be collected to be used for the beach operating cost.

“Sugdan usa nato nga kaning bangka atoa ning i-arrange nga maglinya ang tanan para mao na iyang dunggu-anan dili na pataka og dunggo aron nindot siya tan-awon,” Suan added

The mayor reiterated that “bawal gyud ang maghubog-hubog sa beach. Kay ang mahitabo ang buak nga botelya adto ilabay sa beach, lisud na naay mangatunok unya og mahubog na naay tendency magsinumbagay.”

He said that the municipality has provided free grilling stations.

“Kay dili na gyud na pwede nga adto sa dagat, while nagsakay sa bangka nga adto magluto unya ang kasagaran mahitabo ana adto sa dagat ipanglabay ang basura,” the mayor told the bangkeros.