Manila Bay after its rehabilitation

Mitzi Santos

February 7, 2019

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  Days after the start of Manila Bay’s rehabilitation, photos surfaced online and people can’t help but express how glad and surprised they were with the initial outcome.

  Netizens shared their own thoughts and some even went to Manila Bay just to witness the “improvement” that were claimed in the posts on social media.

  Believing that in the absence of the garbage that were once on the shores of Manila Bay, some citizens dared to swim in the waters of Manila Bay. “For the first time, we saw sand and beach. So when people saw that sand, ‘Wow, it’s a beach na, beachfront na pala,'” Rigor said. “They do not realize that it’s still hundreds of millions of coliform on (sic) that waters.”

  According to CNN Philippines, levels of Coliform, a group of harmful bacteria found in human feces, have gone down from 54 million most probable number per 100 mililiters (MPN/100 ml) on January 4 to 7.9 million on January 28 in some parts of Manila Bay following the start of the government’s rehabilitation drive. However, the officials still warn the citizens that Manila Bay is still not safe to swim considering these coliform levels.

  The Environment department plans to fence off the Manila Bay from the public because aside from the high levels of coliform found in its waters, an 11-year-old girl nearly drowned while swimming.

  The Supreme Court have already ordered government agencies to clean up and preserve Manila Bay way back in 2008.

  The government believes that some parts of Manila Bay will be swimmable by the end of the year.

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