Reports on contamination of seawaters, for example, may have an impact on areas whose major tourist come-ons are its beach resorts.
Presentation of findings should be clear to avoid confusion and prevent a scare.
Not new
That the seawaters in parts of the Mactan Channel, which includes portions of the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay, are contaminated is not news actually.
It does not need genius, just a good pair of eyes, to note the effect of urban blight and environmental neglect on the seawaters near Metro Cebu ports and urban poor areas.
Thus, years before serious water studies were ever conducted in these areas, once popular beach resorts in Talisay lost their pull among beachgoers.
The general perception, however, is that seawaters in other Metro Cebu areas are safe and that the extent of the contamination even in the Mactan Channel itself differs.
Thus, beachgoers merely transferred to places they think the seawaters are clearer.
Specifics
This is the reason why some officials are asking for specifics from the Environment Management Bureau, which conducted the study.
The seawaters below the two Mactan-Mandaue bridges and near the South Road Properties, for example, are clearer than those near the Cebu ports and the Carbon area, thus people swim and fish there.
Surely, the extent of contamination differs.
And is the scope of contamination limited to the Mactan Channel?
With the specifics, concerned government agencies and environmentalists can pour limited resources in areas where the contamination is worst, say near the ports.
Action needed
Of course, the problem on the contamination of seawaters is not easy to solve considering that it involves more than just holding cleanliness drives.
But stopping the talking phase and moving into the action stage could help.
In a way, Provincial Board Member Victor Maambong is right: the bigger problem is political will.
