Cordova readies opening of Bantayan Bay

CEBU, Philippines — Cordova town officials led by Mayor Cesar Suan have conducted a meeting in preparation for the re-opening of Bantayan Bay located in Barangay Catarman on July 16, 2023.

Aside from Suan, joining the meeting were Catarman barangay captain Alejandro Aro and other barangay officials, department heads of Tourism Office, Engineering, Cordova Traffic Management, Solid Waste Management, Cordova Municipal Police Station as well as representatives of the Philippine Coast Guard.

According to the town’s official Facebook post, it was agreed during the meeting that no fixed structures/establishments will be allowed in the area, establishment of a public restrooms and putting up of solar lights in the area, and swimming is only allowed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Also, there will be barangay tanods who will be assigned to monitor the area, putting up of signages on designated parking areas, those allowed to sell are the ambulant vendors whose numbers are limited, putting up of a centralized garbage area and to conduct coastal cleanup by Solid Waste Management Team to ensure cleanliness of Bantayan Bay as well as boatmen will be tasked to remind their passengers about proper garbage disposal.

The PCG will impose a mandatory wearing of lifejackets on board to ensure the safety of the beachgoers.

It can be recalled that Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia ordered the closure of the controversial floating and fixed cottages in the town beginning August 29, 2022 after a high level of fecal coliform was found out within the seawaters where these cottages were illegally constructed in the absence of a mayor’s permit.

The Cebu Provincial Government intervened in the issue after Suan had asked the governor’s help in addressing the environmental problem in his locality.

Based on investigations conducted by the mayor and representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 revealed that the unregulated cottages, which have attracted myriads of tourists, have allowed solid and liquid waste to freely flow to the waters for lack of proper waste management facilities.

It was found out after samples around the bora-bora or floating/fixed cottages confirmed fecal coliform levels beyond the maximum allowable criteria.

Fecal coliforms are known causes of water-borne diseases once a person accidentally drinks or ingests contaminated waters.

Earlier, the governor met with industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue and Architect Buck Sia to discuss developments on the “Cordova Ideas: Bantayan Bay Design Competition.”

The said development is part of the proposed Cordova eco-tourism development plan which aims to rehabilitate Bantayan Bay, the site used to be the home to illegal floating cottages which the governor ordered demolished.

According to Sugbo News, the official Facebook page of the provincial government that Sia initially presented to the governor the accommodation types and amenities that will be developed at the site, eyed to be patterned after the world-famous Maldives, a top beach destination in South Asia. — (FREEMAN)