The coliform level at the controversial drainage outfall has reached to 24 million colonies, far higher than the previous lab test taken few days after its opening which registered only at 2,000 colonies.
The closure of the drainage outfall is non-negotiable, declared Gov. Erico Aumentado yesterday after he received the results of the latest laboratory test released last Friday by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) offices which were alarmed on the rapid increase of pollutants at the seawater fronting the Tagbilaran City Port.
"The closure order of the drainage outfall should be issued by the DENR within this week, otherwise heads will roll at the DENR," the governor warned.
The latest DENR lab test came from water samples taken by the composite team dispatched by DENR Secretary Lito Aitneza following the governor's recommendation to close the drainage outfall.
The water samples were taken from three areas: the water from the outfall registered 24 million colonies; the seawater fronting MR Restaurant at the port area registered 2.4 million colonies and the area near Bohol Tropics Resort Club at 2,400 colonies.
"All the results are alarming," confirmed PENRO Nestor Canda during an interview with the Chronicle yesterday.
The governor, upon learning of the latest lab test results called DENR Reg'l Director Leonardo Sibaluca to read the lab test results upon reporting to his office tomorrow.
"I can not tolerate further increase of coliform level in the seawater," the governor stressed as he expects the closure order of the drainage within this week.
INTERIM SOLUTIONThe "close-open" solution which DENR Sec. Atienza earlier said is very pallative in nature as it will still bring the pollutants to the seawater once the drainage outfall will be opened, according to the governor who convened an emergency meeting yesterday with PENRO Canda.
The meeting discussed the interim solution to the problem since it will take long before the waste water treatment facility can be constructed.
Details of this interim solution could not be known until series of discussions can be made with the experts, the governor said.
However, he reiterated that the closure of the outfall should be ordered soon.
Gov. Aumentado noted that if only the city mayor could have complied with his commitment to put up the waste water treatment facility simultaneous to the drainage project, then all these problems could have been avoided.
CONFUSING THE PUBLICThere is a continued media campaign to confuse the public on the real situation at the drainage outfall, diverting the people from the issue on what really are the reasons why this drainage problem came into our midst, the governor said.
The Booy Barangay council passed Resolution No. 2008-0211 "urging the city mayor to close the sewerage outfall as soon as possible, citing to instill the preservation and restoration of its water resources and for public and environmental safety."
The Booy council likewise stated that the "livelihood is threatened for the reason that customers stopped patronizing Caingit Beach because of the foul odor and visible darkening of the seawater due to pollution caused by waste from the illegal connection."
The resolution was signed by the barangay officials led by Barangay Captain Eutorgio N. Telmo, Jr.
Earlier last week, the Caingit Fish Vendors Association likewise issued a manifesto demanding the closure of the drainage outfall due to the severe decline on sales at their respective stalls right at the famous Caingit Beach in Booy district, this city.
Dr. Cyril Tallo, a hospital chief in the city, was one of those residents in the area who called dyRD's top rated "Inyong Alagad" program to air his complain on the foul odor coming from the outfall.
Despite these two resolutions and feedbacks coming from residents near the outfall, news reports coming from a local radio station (not dyRD) continue to mount a "counter report" that there is no foul odor in the area near the drainage outfall. - source: The Bohol Chronicle
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Topic: 24 Million Colonies of Coliform Found in Tagbilaran Bay (Read 2135 times)