By CALVIN D. CORDOVA
CEBU CITY – Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has issued an Executive Order (EO) prohibiting swimming and similar activities in the coastal waters of Cordova, Cebu.
Garcia issued Executive Order No. 35 on Tuesday, Sept. 20, weeks after the Department of Health-Central Visayas (DOH 7) warned the public against swimming in the town’s coastal waters due to high levels of fecal coliform.
The high-level of fecal coliform was discovered in Barangay Catarman where several fixed and floating cottages have been mounted.
In its public health warning, the DOH 7 cautioned the public that fecal coliform is a known cause of water-borne diseases once a person accidentally drinks or ingests contaminated water.
Garcia noted that despite the DOH 7’s warning, swimming and similar activities continued in the area.
She added that a verified and scientific ambient coastal water sampling showed that the coastal waters in Barangay Catarman were not maintained in safe and satisfactory conditions.
Garcia added that an inventory conducted by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office showed that public swimming and other similar activities have been conducted without necessary permits and clearances from the municipality in violation of Presidential Decree No. 856 or the Sanitation Code of the Philippines and Republic Act 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004.
With the findings of the various government agencies, Garcia said there was an urgent need to immediately prohibit swimming and similar activities in the town’s coast waters.
She urged the local police, Maritime Group, Coast Guard, the Naval Forces Central, and Maritime Industry Authority to help ensure the strict implementation of the EO.