Water at the Tambobo Bay in Siaton, Negros Oriental has been found to meet the quality and safety standards set by the government, an official of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.
Commodore Christopher Auro, commander of the Coast Guard District Southern Visayas (CGDSV), said the results were based on water samples taken by teams from the PCG and Metro Dumaguete Water (MDW) from three locations in the bay on June 2.
“Based on this partnership, this is just an initial monitoring, and so far, the results show that they are within the standards set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),” Auro said.
Only one parameter, for coliform presence, needs to be tested again.
MDW, a private company, is collaborating for the first time with a government organization to help monitor and guarantee the quality and safety of water in the Tambobo Bay for both people and the ecosystem.
Auro expressed gratitude to MDW for responding to the Coast Guard’s request for water quality testing at the bay, where at least 60 yachts are moored or anchored.
He reminded that the PCG mandate is to safeguard and maintain the marine ecosystem through its Marine Environmental Protection Unit.
He said water quality monitoring will be a regular activity as they also look forward to similar partnerships with the DENR – Environmental Management Bureau and Silliman University.
Tambobo Bay is vulnerable to red tide toxins, especially during the rainy season.
In a statement, MDW said it partnered with the PCG to provide free water testing at the bay as part of its Safe Water for All advocacy and the broader commitment to water resources stewardship.
“This test hopes to provide valuable data to contribute to informed decision-making for the benefit of the community,” MDW chief operating officer Robert Cabiles said.
“This activity is also in line with MDW’s initiatives that help protect our shared water resources,” he added.
Auro highlighted the need for regular monitoring of Tambobo Bay due to the presence of yachts that pose environmental hazards such as oil spills, harmful algal blooms that cause red tide, or unregulated waste disposal. (PNA)