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Saturday, March 18, 2017
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ILOILO City – The algal bloom in Boracay Island is a blessing, not a curse to the tourism industry, according to the Regional Ecotourism Committee (REC).
REC tackled the algal bloom “phenomenon” among others during its first quarter meeting on Thursday.
Algae contributes to making Boracay’s sand white and cool even under the scorching heat of the sun, said Department of Tourism regional director Helen Catalbas, former chair of the REC.
In a study presented by Dr. Vilma Limates, chief, Management Services of Guimaras’ Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, algal bloom is a seasonal appearance on the beaches of Boracay, particularly in February to June.
“Algae grow with the excess supply of nitrates and phosphates which trigger its emergence,” Limates said.
“This excess may create some ecological problems so it must be addressed,” she added.
While the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) is working on the concern, Catalbas said, Boracay’s waters are still safe, based on the February 2017 water quality assessment of the EMB itself.
According to Arjunn Calvo, chief of EMB’s Planning and Programming Division, said the long beach areas of Boracay have not exceeded the normal levels for identified pollutants and water quality has in fact improved.
“We are firm on our stand as a body that the algal bloom in Boracay is a blessing, not a curse, because when contained properly, the presence of algae keeps making Boracay what it is,” Catalbas said.
Just this March 8, DENR director Jim Sampulna said untreated wastewater was causing the algal blooms, citing his agency’s research last year.
The research was a repeat of a previous research that had similar results, added Sampulna.
DENR should be updating its study on algal bloom and the situation of pollutants in the resort, said Catalbas.
“The results of your study will be my documents in discussing with the stakeholders there, in campaigning for saving Boracay from greedy practices, hence prevent ecological imbalance,” she added.
The recurring appearance of green algae in Boracay’s otherwise white-sand beach has raised concern on the safety of tourists and the island’s ecological health.
Algae are attracted to untreated wastewater, said Sampulna.
He specifically cited soap and detergents in untreated wastewater produced by informal settlers and being flushed out to the sea.
Sampulna did not discount the possibility that some establishments and residences may be dumping untreated wastewater into the sea.
It is not necessarily the tourists that pollute Boracay but the greed of some establishments which make money at all costs, said Catalbas.
Director Jim Sampulna of DENR said his agency is doing actions to address the algal bloom and other pollution issues such as the lack of water treatment facility, illegal structures on natural floodway, surface runoff of organic waste, and illegal reclamation of wetlands and mangroves, among others. (PIA-Iloilo/PN)
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