By ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has ordered an investigation behind the sudden spike in coliform bacteria levels in Bulabog beach in Boracay.
Days after reporting in a cabinet meeting that a “significantly decreasing trend” of colifom occurrence has been observed in the area, DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu received a “shocking” report that coliform presence in Bulabog beach has increased to millions.
Coliform bacteria are used as common indicator of sanitary quality of food or water. Their presence indicates pathogenic organisms of fecal origin may be present in a given sample. For areas used in swimming and other human activities, the safe level is 1,000 mpn/100ml.
“We were able to decrease it to 2,000 most probable number (mpn) per 100 milliliters (ml) after a trend of millions over the past two years. And then here comes the shocking report that it has again reached two million,” Cimatu said.
He has since ordered Boracay’s two water concessionaires, Boracay Island Water Company (BIWC) and Boracay Tubi Systems Inc. (BTSI), to work together in cleaning up wastewater being discharged into the sea. Cimatu also instructed both companies to improve their sewer and drainage systems.
“This task is crucial to improving Boracay’s water quality, and is instrumental for us to recommend the reopening of the island,” he said.
“Any kind of water that is being discharged into the sea should be treated first,” he added.
“We also have to make people responsible for the discharge, whether they are connected or not, because this is what is causing the problem.”
BWIC agreed to set up “interceptors” that would help treat wastewater going through the drainage system before being discharged into the sea.
BTSI, on its part, proposed to sponsor a water quality management program where stakeholders themselves would monitor the quality of water in a given area and initiate efforts to maintain its cleanliness.
