Saturday, April 21, 2007 Warning on Talisay seawaters based on 80s data: EMB official
AN OFFICIAL of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) 7 blamed the garbage dumpsites near the coastline and the indiscriminate dumping of wastewater into the sea for the unsafe state of the seawater in some Metro Cebu areas.
For Talisay City, EMB 7 Director Allan Arranguez said there is no new data that can determine the current state of the city’s seawaters since the bureau has yet to conduct another water analysis.
The last time Talisay City’s seawaters was tested was 10 years ago yet.
“We still have to revisit Talisay. Their water’s unsafe state for swimming was the finding and recommendation in the 1980s study. As of now, we have no update yet,” he said.
The proximity of Cebu City’s dumpsite in Barangay Inayawan to Talisay City also contributed to the water pollution there, Arranguez further said.
In Mactan Channel, there is no sign of improvement, as regular sampling showed a concentration of fecal coliform exceeding the standard of 200 most probable number (MPN) per 100 milligrams.
Arranguez said that unless wastewater discharged by industries are treated and authorities of the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Cebu monitor and strictly enforce the law against indiscriminate dumping of waste, there is no solution to the water pollution problem in Mactan Channel.
“Worst, Mandaue has a dumpsite in the coastal barangay of Umapad and this contributed much to the pollution. The City should close it and relocate it elsewhere or if they have a budget, they should just build a sanitary landfill,” he said.
Vessels docked at the Cebu City’s pier are also to blame.
Arranguez said he understands the apprehensions of Metro Cebu’s officials that the water pollution problem will have a negative impact on tourism.
But for the regional director, the task to protect the environment should not rest on the Department on Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) alone, but should also have the involvement of the local government units.
Following the report that the seawaters of the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue and Talisay are unsafe for swimming, fishing and other recreation activities, officials of the four neighboring cities vowed to institute measures to eliminate the sources of pollution.
Arranguez said that before June this year, his office will conduct another water sampling from Cebu City’s coastal barangays, including Ermita, Pasil, Suba and Sawang Calero. (AIV)
