THE City Government of Mati denied reports that Pujada Bay has become a ‘virtual cesspool’.
On June 28, 2022, news site Rappler published a story entitled ‘Davao Oriental’s world-class bay turns into a virtual cesspool’ that is allegedly based on a study by the Philippine Environmental Management Bureau (PEMB). The study says the fecal coliform contamination of Pujada Bay has now reached more than 2,000 parts per million which are beyond the tolerable level of 200 ppm (parts per million).
However, Doris Valdesco of the Davao Oriental Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (Penro) said they are not aware of the existence of the PEMB.
“What we have at the DENR is only the Environmental Management Bureau or the EMB,” Valdesco said.
Meanwhile, she said through the City Information Office of Mati on July 6, 2022 that fecal coliform contamination is normal, especially in coastal areas “where humans are also known to co-habit.”
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Davao Regional Executive Director Bagani Fidel Evasco through CIO Mati explained that water sampling is “specific only to the area where the water sample was taken and does not necessarily reflect the situation in the entire Pujada Bay,”.
In a press release from the City of Mati, they said they already requested an official copy of the result of the latest water sampling conducted by the DENR-EMB for them to verify the report made by Rappler.
“Regardless of the water sampling result, Valdesco and Lugo said that what is important is that the local government units along with the DENR are implementing mitigating measures to minimize if not prevent contamination in the bay,” City of Mati on their Facebook Page post.
“Environment officials rued how the story was spun to put the government in a bad light considering that Pujada Bay, along with Mayo and Balete Bays, was declared as one of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World by a European-based organization,” the city added.
According to the city, they have ongoing projects to protect Pujada Bay and have been recognized for its practices.
“For its continuing projects aimed at protecting Pujada Bay, the City of Mati LGU was recently recognized by the DENR for its outstanding practices on solid waste management and its IEC strategies,” the city said.
The city said they have “measures like continuous mangrove rehabilitation in areas surrounding Pujada Bay; rehabilitation and retrofitting of the sanitary landfill; improvement of garbage collection service; continuing information, education, campaign (IEC) on proper waste disposal; recent creation of IEC Team of the City Integrated Ecological Solid Waste Management Board; bamboo riverbank stabilization program; water and sanitation hygiene (WASH) projects like clustered sewerage system with centralized water treatment facilities in Magsaysay, Poblacion, Madang Public Market, and Dahican: relocation of coastal residents in Magapo and Calagundian affected by government projects as well as the Magsaysay relocation and overall urban renewal project; as well as updating of Integrated Coastal Resource Management Plan”.
On the other hand, City of Mati Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat, according to Mati CIO, has encouraged Matinians to “continue protecting the environment, especially so that the city is considered as one of the prime tourist destinations in the region.” KSD