PILES of medical waste were seen floating around the shores of Barangay Ibo, Lapu-Lapu City, Saturday, January 5, causing concern among residents close to the area.
Facebook user Cessna Zosa-Sarmiento, a dragon boat rower of the Black Manta Warriors who frequently practices the sport every weekend, expressed her disturbance on social media when she and her team caught several kids playing with syringes.
In the photos she uploaded, intravenous instruments such as needles, syringes, and IV solution bags were seen floating close to the shore. Heaps of vials, some of which still contained blood samples, gloves, and disinfectants were also seen drifting.
"Hope Lapu-Lapu [government] could take action to this idiots disposing used hospital/laboratory supplies." Sarmiento wrote in her post.
Republic Act No. 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 pursues the 'protection, preservation, and revival of fresh, brackish, and marine waters."
Recently, seawaters off certain barangays of the cities of Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue and, Cebu along the Mactan Channel and in Talisay City are no longer safe for bathing because the effluents discharged by industries and residences are above the tolerable level set by the Clean Water Act. (JGS)