Red tide alert on in 8 provinces

The Department of the Interior and Local Government has instructed officials of eight provinces to strictly impose a shellfish ban in local waters due to the presence of red tide microorganisms.

In a memorandum, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina issued the red tide alert to officials of Zambales, Palawan, Masbate, Sorsogon, Leyte, Samar, Davao Oriental and Zamboanga del Sur.

The National Red Tide Task Force has imposed a ban on the harvesting of shellfish from the Masinloc waters in Palauig, Zambales; the Honda Bay in Palawan; the Madanon and Milagros waters in Masbate; Juag Lagoon in Matnog, Sorsogon; San Pedro Bay in Leyte and Samar; Balite Bay in Mati, Davao Oriental; and Dumanguillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur.

Lina issued the memorandum after the task force sought his department’s assistance in disseminating information on the shellfish ban. — Perseus Echeminada