Makati warns: Don’t eat ‘toxic’ Pasig River fish

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City government yesterday warned residents against eating bangus (milkfish) and tilapia (St. Peter’s fish) caught from the Pasig River as these are considered toxic.

City health officer Dr. Jocelyn Vaño issued the warning after residents of Makati and neighboring areas were seen flocking to the Pasig River to catch tilapia and bangus that reportedly escaped from fish ponds in Rizal and Laguna, which overflowed during the onslaught of Typhoon Glenda on Wednesday.

According to Vaño, fish and other marine life caught from the Pasig River may contain a number of toxic chemicals, including methylmercury.

Methylmercury has been found to be harmful to the nervous system and can cause mental and physical retardation in children as well as other diseases such as cancer, she said.