If the floating chalets continue in operation, Garcia said it would “virtually kill the golden goose”, referring to income brought in by local tourism. She described the situation in Cordoba as an “imminent marine disaster”.
On August 15, the Mayor of Cordoba, Cesar Suan, announced that the level of coliforms in the city’s waters had increased, making it unsafe for swimming, citing a report from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the DENR.
Water quality tests carried out by the EMB over the past two months have shown that the level of coliforms in the seas of Cordoba has reached 1,300 most probable number per 100 milliliters. For bodies of water to be safe for swimming, coliform levels need only be 100 MPN per ml.
The Health Ministry earlier warned that swimming in waters with high concentrations of faecal coliform bacteria can lead to various illnesses, such as typhoid fever, hepatitis, gastroenteritis and dysentery.
“You need to know that Cordoba cottages are illegal and you can’t do whatever you want,” Garcia said.
The provincial government would grant each of the 73 owners of floating chalets and 54 operators of fixed structures a financial aid of 10,000 pesos.
Suan said the municipal government would set aside a separate aid of P5,000 and a bag of rice for those whose cottages were demolished.
Filipino Daily Researcher
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