Kanlaob River dirty but province won't halt canyoneering

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu's Kanlaob River in the southern towns of Alegria and Badian is reportedly contaminated with Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria or organisms forming from human and animal wastes.

Provincial Tourism Officer Joselito "Boboi" Costas said at least 19 water samples they took from different areas of the river tested positive for coliform, which poses a danger to health.

He said the water sampling tests were conducted sometime in October this year, but the result of the tests was only disclosed to the public during the budget hearings last week.

Dr. Rene Catan, head of the Integrated Provincial Health Office, confirmed that the entire river system is positive for E. coli based on their separate study.

"The whole stretch of the water source gikan taas padulong ubos kay taas og contamination sa E. coli," he said.

Costas explained that the news was not divulged publicly because they did not want people to panic or worry about it.

However, he said that the results of the tests in their water samples are not yet validated, as they need a further study that would entail a long period of time.

With the presence of these bacteria in the water system, he added that they continue to monitor the sampling areas.

Costas said they have already directed the towns to install warning signages like "the water is not safe for drinking."

Lack of toilets

Costas said the lack of toilets is linked to the water contamination. He said Ba-dian's upland communities do not have a sanitary toilet.

He said most of the households in Barangay Sulsugan, for instance, don't have toilets and human waste ends up directly into the river.

"The water is not really safe for drinking," he said.

Based on the PSA 2015 Census of population and housing, Sulsugan has a population of 417. Sulsugan Barangay Captain Teofilo Caballero earlier said his barangay has at least 150 households.

Catan said they will send people there to check possible sources of contamination.

"Because it's an open source water, ang hugaw gikan sa mga iro, mga tawo, mga hayop, eventually inig ulan mo-runoff g'yud na didto sa river. So that's one of the factor kung nganong taas kaayo og E. coli kana'ng river nato," he said.

According to the World Health Organization said diseases which may be present in water that tests positive for coliform bacteria include typhoid fever, cholera, hepatitis, dysentery, giardiasis, and hemolytic uremic syndrome. In most cases, the illness is self-limiting, but it may lead to a life-threatening disease including hemolytic uremic syndrome, especially in young children and the elderly.

Unfortunately, the town's rural water systems are fed by the said river.

The river has also become popular among adventurers for its canyoneering activities. The canyoneering trail, which usually takes at least three hours, begins in an upland barangay of Alegria and leads to Kawasan Falls in adjacent Badian town. 

Caballero said their water has been sourced from Kabukalan spring, upstream of Kawasan Falls.

He said they have been planning two reservoirs in the source but they are currently facing budget constraints. He said they need at least P2.5 million, but they have only P500,000 available.

He said Badian town officials can install water chlorinators to treat drinking water.

Mayors' call

Catan did not recommend for the temporary closure of the canyoneering site, saying that it depends on the judgment of Badian Mayor Carmencita Librando-Lumain and Alegria Mayor Verna Magallon.

"Whether or not to close down the area, it depends on the mayors kay kahibalo ta tourism area na. Kahibalo ta nga kun daghan mga tawo nga mangagi dako ang chance nga ma-contaminate ang water source even more but since it is a flowing water source ma-wash off ra man na sila," he said.

 The FREEMAN tried to contact both mayors regarding the development, but they were unavailable for comment.

Aside from putting up signages, Catan said cattle owners should avoid bringing their animals to within 50 meters of the river.

He added that each household must also have a toilet so their wastes will not end up anywhere.

He said the IPHO is now working with the Provincial Environment and Natural Office and the LGUs for a long term solution to the problem.  (FREEMAN)