THE findings of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-7) on the coastal waters of Mactan Island must be taken positively by the Lapu-Lapu City government.
Regional Director Isabelo Montejo of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) said it is high time for the Lapu-Lapu City government to improve its waste collection and disposal in the coastal areas.
“This should not be taken negatively,” Montejo said in response to Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza’s criticism of EMB-7’s release of its findings on coliform contamination in some beaches.
“The sustainability is how they implement. The work of the DENR and EMB is to monitor and get data but on how to mitigate and solve it practically, it must be done by the LGU,” Montejo said.
EMB-7 Director William Cuñado said the other day that the coastal waters in Mactan Island are safe and clean.
In August last year, coliform contamination peaked at more than 5,000 most probable number (MPN) per 100 milliliter (ml) which is four times more than the acceptable level of 1,000 MPN/100 ml.
Radaza said they took water samples from 11 beach resorts along Hilutongan Channel last March 3 and found that coliform levels were below the acceptable level.
“I will ask Director Cuñado to conduct an exit conference with the LGUs concerned so they will know the contents of the report before it will be available for public consumption,” Montejo said.