‘Dolomite, Baseco beaches unsafe for swimming’

MANILA, Philippines — People visiting the Dolomite and Baseco Beaches in Manila should not attempt to swim as Manila Bay remains unsafe for swimming, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna said on Friday.

The coliform level of Manila Bay’s waters registered at 32,595.2 most probable number per 100 milliliters (mpn/100 mL) on the real-time water quality monitoring system at the Manila Bay Baywalk station on Friday morning.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order 2016-08, Class SB water or water intended for bathing, swimming and skin diving should be at 100 mpn/100 mL.

In a Facebook Live video, Pangan noted that the coliform level has gone down significantly since national government agencies started a concerted effort to rehabilitate the bay.

City government personnel would prevent people from swimming at the two beaches, she said.

The city government’s department of public services and the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau in Metro Manila installed the water quality monitoring equipment at the Baywalk area.