BATANGAS CITY – Authorities assured that the popular sardine tawilis and other types of fish found in Taal Lake are safe for human consumption following a whistleblower's claim that the bodies of missing “sabungeros” (cockfighting afficionados) were dumped there.

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-Calabarzon Regional Director Sammy Malvas emphasized that tawilis, along with other commonly consumed fish such as tilapia and bangus from the lake, are safe to eat.

Malvas said tawilis typically stays in shallow waters and feeds on plankton, making it unlikely to consume any decaying matter.

“Maraming isda ang nahuhuli sa Taal Lake, at pangunahin na rito ang tawilis. Ito ay tinatawag na planktivore o isdang kumakain ng plankton o maliliit na organismo, kaya’t wala itong posibilidad na kumain ng nabubulok na bagay,” he said.

Malvas added that tilapia and bangus are cultured in fish pens and fed with commercial feeds.

He added that maliputo, another fish species found in Taal Lake, is a carnivore but not a scavenger, as it feeds on small fish rather than decaying organic matter.

Malvas emphasized that the public should not be alarmed by allegations that fish from Taal Lake are unsafe because of the dumping of bodies.

BFAR-Calabarzon has intensified its campaign to combat misinformation on the safety and quality of fish harvested from the lake.