DENR to put fence along Manila Baywalk to dissuade swimming

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Wednesday it will put up a perimeter fence along the beachfront of the Manila Bay to dissuade people from swimming in the polluted waters while the rehabilitation is ongoing.

"We are about to close the swimming area. We did not anticipate the influx of people. We are closing the beach front," Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum.

The Environment chief said the DENR will put up a perimeter fence at the seawall of the Manila Baywalk --the seaside public walkway overlooking Manila Bay along Roxas Boulevard.

The fence, which will cover the area starting from the Manila Yacht Club to the US Embassy, will be built in the next three days.

The closure of the Baywalk beachfront may take six months.

"Ang iko-close lang 'yung tubig but Baywalk will still be open," Cimatu said, noting that people can still view the Manila Bay sunset along the Baywalk.

"Hindi lang puwede pasukin 'yung tubig kasi paano ka maglilinis kung may mga nagsi-swimming?" he said.

The Environment chief also reminded the public that the Manila Bay is unsafe for bathing due to high level of coliform bacteria in its waters.

Cimatu said that though the fecal coliform count in the swimming area of Manila Bay has improved from 330 million most probable number (mpn) per 100 milliliters to only 7.5 million mpn/100ml, the levels are still far from being safe for swimming at only 100 mpn/100ml.

The Department of Health (DOH) has earlier warned the public against swimming in Manila Bay because the area is still unsafe and polluted waters despite undergoing a massive rehabilitation. — MDM, GMA News