THE Department of Tourism (DOT) has banned the public from swimming in some beach areas in Panglao, Bohol and El Nido, Palawan due to "very high" level of coliform.

DOT Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said Friday, November 30, that coliform is dangerous to one's health.

With this, tourist and locals are not allowed to swim at the Alona beach in Panglao, Bohol after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) found 16,000 most probable number (mpn) of coliform count in its waters.

In El Nido, Palawan, the Buena Suerte Beach also registered coliform count of 1,300 mpn, said Puyat.

She said for water in beaches to be rendered safe for swimming, it must have a coliform count of only 100 mpn, while swimming pools usually have 400 mpn.

"Dapat ipinatutupad na ni mayor na wala ng swimming kasi (The mayor should have banned swimming there because) it's not good for the health of the tourists," Puyat said.

"Sa social media, isa lang ang magpost na nagkasakit siya, masisira na yung tourism industry (One negative post on social media can damage the entire tourism industry)," she said.

Puyat said the DENR is conducting water quality check in Panglao every 15 days.

She said they have yet to determine when to lift the swimming ban.

Puyat said they want to avoid the closing of the Alona and Buena Suerte for rehabilitation.

"Sinabihan na namin ang mayor doon na maglagay na siya ng sign. Sana makinig siya...Kung napakatigas ng ulo, sana wag na nila kami i-force na isara (We told the mayors there to put a sign. I hope they will listen because if they don't, we will be forced to close the beaches)," she said.

In April this year, the government closed the Boracay Island in Aklan after President Rodrigo Duterte dubbed it a cesspool. It was reopened only in October after a six-month rehabilitation. (SunStar Philippines)