Coliform levels up amid rehab efforts at Manila Bay

Coliform levels at the Manila Bay have worsened amid dredging operations in connection with its rehabilitation.

Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said dredging stirred up the waste deposits at the bottom of the bay.

"Nabubulabog natin ngayon 'yung dagat dahil nagkaroon ng dredging, nagkaroon ng paglilinis, so tumataas 'yung dumi. Doon kumukuha ng sampling, tumataas coliform level natin," Antiporda said on Maki Pulido's report on "24 Oras."

The fecal coliform level of the water from Sampling Station 14 in Baseco increased to 3,500 most probable number (mpn) this month from 700 mpn in January.

At Sampling Station 15, the coliform levels shot up to 4,600 mpn from the previous 790 mpn.

The level has also increased significantly in the waters from the baywalk area, where the fecal coliform level reached 9.2 million mpn in March 19 from 5.4 million mpn in March 12.

All these numbers are a far cry from the standard level of only 100 mpn.

Antiporda said that many erring commercial establishments and residents continued to dump waste to estuaries that flow directly to the bay.

"Asahan natin 'yan lalong tataas yan dahil 'yung pinaka-tributaries niya. Hindi pa rin na hundred percent na talagang na-aaddress," Antiporda said.

Barriers that were set up on the baywalk prevented the public from swimming in the unsafe waters.

Some residents in the Baseco area, however, did not mind taking a dip in Manila Bay despite the possibility of getting skin and eye infections.

DENR warned that once ingested, the water from Manila Bay may also cause diarrhea, typhoid, cholera, and dysentery. —Dona Magsino/NB, GMA News