Government raises concern over high bacteria levels on Boracay water

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government raised concern today over the water quality problems in the famous Boracay island in the central province of Aklan, saying that failure to immediately address this could drive away tourists.

Ramon Paje from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said that all stakeholders, who benefit from the various tourism and business opportunities of the island, should help maintain the good quality of its beaches.

The DENR's Environmental Management Bureau office in Western Visayas has reported that coliform bacteria levels in a drainage outlet that empties into the sea in Sitio Bulabog in Boracay exceed safe standards and reach 47,460 most probable number (mpn) per 100 milimeter (ml).

The safe level is 1,000 mpn/100ml for waters for swimming and other human contact activities.

Apart from posing serious health and sanitary problems, coliform bacteria could also adversely affect aquatic resources, including marine life and coral reefs which, aside from the powdery white sand beaches, form part of the island's main attractions.

Paje said the evident cause of beach pollution is the lack of proper drainage system in the area.

He called for completion of the ongoing sewerage and drainage improvements on the island to help reduce the amount of pollutants directly discharged to surface water and groundwater.

Paje said that he had already ordered the local DENR office to closely monitor establishments and apprehend violators of the Clean Water Act.