DENR: Manila Bay swimming risky

Here's a warning to swimmers who love to take a dip in Manila Bay. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) warned the public yesterday of the adverse effects of taking a swim in Manila Bay.

According to DENR Environment Management Bureau-National Capital Region director Arthur Garcia, Manila Bay is contaminated with coliform.

A person who swims there has a great chance of swallowing disease-causing organisms or catching pathogens which enter the body through the mouth, ears or cuts in the skin.

Diseases such as typhoid fever, hepatitis, gastroenteritis, dysentry and ear infections can be contracted in waters with high fecal coliform counts, Garcia warned.

Many people swim in Manila Bay's polluted waters to refresh themselves from the scorching summer heat.

Garcia said the EMB-NCR will set up monitoring points in Manila Bay's bathing areas to determine the extent of the coliform contamination. The monitoring, from Luneta to Parañaque, will ascertain the exact fecal coliform counts at various points in Manila Bay.

Monthly water quality monitoring in Metro Manila's five major river systems will also be conducted to determine the average level of contaminants and its degree of deviation.

Garcia added that apart from mere monitoring activities, the agency will also conduct research for the formulation of water quality management and rehabilitation plants.

In another development, the Red Tide Task Force reiterated that a shelfish ban remains in Masinloc waters in Zambales, Mandaon in Masbate, Dumanquilas, Sibuguey and Illana bays in Zamboanga del Sur. Shelfish and seafood harvested from the five areas are still not fit for human consumption.

Several areas, however, remain clear of red tide toxins, unaffected areas include Malampaya Sound, Palawan; Lagoon in Matnog and Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon; Milagros Waters in Bacolod City, Victorias Waters in Negros Occidental; Sapian Bay and Tinagon Dagat in Capiz.

Also cleared from the dangerous toxin are Masqueda and Villareal Bays in Western Samar; Calbayog waters in Calbayog City; Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City; Taguines Lagoon in Camaguin Island; Balite and Pujada Bays in Davao Oriental and Lianga Bay, Barobo and Hintauan Waters in Surigao del Sur.

A shellfish ban is imposed when the red tide toxin level in shelfish is more than 40 ug/100 grams of shelfish meat.