Water quality problem hounds El Nido anew
EL NIDO, PALAWAN—The degraded quality of this tourist town’s coastal waters cropped up anew with environment officials in the Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) region repeating a warning against elevated coliform levels in Bacuit Bay—a popular leisure destination—making it unsafe for swimming.
Joe Amil Salino, regional director of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), said the prohibition against swimming covers the entire bay and is enforced in coordination with the local government.
“We prohibit activities in this area because coliform levels are relatively high. We have coordinated with the local government unit and they are responsible for policing and preventing people from swimming here,” said Salino, adding that they have put up warning signs in affected areas.
The problem, according to Salino, is not something new. But this gained public attention recently after a video of murky water that flowed from under a business establishment into the bay went viral on social media after being uploaded by a hotel guest.
“This is the stormwater drainage system—the municipal drainage canal where the black, untreated wastewater coming from the upstream drainage systems is being discharged,” Salino said.
On Thursday, EMB personnel inspected the establishment and checked on the compliance of other businesses with the town’s connection to the sewage treatment plant (STP).
“We are calling on the local government unit of El Nido to immediately address [the problem in this] stormwater drainage canal,” Salino said.
He said the EMB had recommended the regular cleanup of at least five outfalls facing Bacuit Bay. He reminded the local government and business owners to treat wastewater before it is flushed into the drainage system.
Solutions
El Nido Mayor Edna Lim said the local government had already laid down plans to address the problem.
Big commercial establishments in the affected area, she said, are already connected to STPs, while approximately 66 households remain outside the system.
She said based on earlier recommendations, they will establish clustered tanks where wastewater will be gathered and siphoned off for treatment at the STP.
She appealed to the DENR to ease the process of securing necessary documents, like permits and clearances.
“Because as we all know, El Nido is a protected area, so I am calling on the DENR to help us,” Lim said.
