DOH warns vs swimming as high levels of fecal coliform found in sea of Cordova, Cebu
CEBU CITY – The Department of Health (DOH)-Central Visayas has warned the public against swimming within the coastal waters of Barangay Catarman, Cordova, Mactan, Cebu due to high levels of fecal coliform.

Dr. Jaime Bernadas, DOH 7 chief, said their assessment team discovered the high levels of fecal coliform where several fixed and floating cottages have been mounted.
Bernadas said the high level of the bacteria may have been caused by the poor sewage and disposal systems of the structures which violate sanitation code standards.
“We also note that the results from the ambient coastal water sampling tests conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) taken out of the water samples around the ‘bora-bora’ or floating, fixed cottages confirm fecal colifrom levels beyond the maximum allowable criteria,” said Bernadas.
The high levels of fecal coliform pose danger for swimming and similar activities, Bernadas warned.
Bernadas explained that fecal coliform is a known cause of water-borne diseases once a person accidentally drinks or ingests contaminated waters.
Symptoms of water-borne disease may include fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, stomach pains, and loose bowel movement.
“A person may be even at risk of dehydration because of electrolyte loss once left untreated,” Bernadas said.
Bernadas said the DOH, DENR, and the local government unit of Cordova are coordinating with operators of the existing structures to ensure compliance with sanitation standards and regulations.