City Health Department inspects Manila bay resto ordered closed

The Manila City Health Department on Tuesday conducted an inspection into one of the prominent establishments that were allegedly dumping wastewater directly into Manila Bay.

The Aristocrat was among restaurants in the bay area that was issued a closure order by the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources carried out the rehabilitation of the area near the heavily-polluted bay.

The closure order from the LLDA only shut off the concerned establishments' water supply and outfall.

It was still up to the City government to cancel the business permits of establishments that have been issued cease and desist orders.

According to Maki Pulido's report on 24 Oras, the sanitation officers went to the restaurant on Tuesday with papers from the City Administrator on hand after being barred from entering the premises the day before.

The health department had yet to issue recommendations, but sanitation officer Romy Jalcon said they are looking into the source and potability of the establishment's water supply.

With the closure order issued by the LLDA, Jalcon asked for the source for the restaurant's source of water.

"Where are they getting, who are supplying the water?...It's a problem already of drinking water and water potability," he said.

Restaurant management has declined to comment on the matter, but they presented documents indicating they were connected to a sewerage facility.

They also maintained that they conduct routine health inspections.

The LLDA also plans to release a complete list of establishments operating without the proper waste water treatment facilities.

In Pasay City, the issuance of closure orders on business establishments is still being discussed by government officials.

The LLDA continues to inspect other business establishments in the Manila Bay area and will come up with a list of violators next week.

The establishments discharging wastewater into Manila Bay will be issued a notice of violation or closure order. — Margaret Claire Layug/BAP, GMA News