General Santos City Hall building. (PNA GenSan file photo)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The city government has stepped up its monitoring and implementation of waste management measures in seaside villages and waterways draining to the Sarangani Bay to address the high fecal coliform levels in its coastal waters.
Allan Marcilla, head of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), said Wednesday they have assigned teams to help ensure the proper disposal of wastes by communities and establishments, especially those near the coastal areas.
Marcilla specifically cited the areas adjacent to the Queen Tuna Park in Barangay Dadiangas South, which was earlier found with high levels of fecal coliform based on tests conducted by the CENRO, Waste Management Office (WMO), and the Environmental Management Bureau.
The three agencies earlier recommended the temporary closure of the park’s beach area to facilitate the implementation of rehabilitation measures.
A report from the WMO earlier said test results “substantially exceeded” the standard fecal coliform level for the area of 200 MPN/100 mL or most probable number per 100 milliliters.
It said the figures varied from 500 MPN/100 mL to “almost 900” MPN/100 mL for certain periods.
“We’re conducting regular water quality monitoring on our coastal waters and we already implemented various measures to address the problem,” Marcilla said.
He said this entails the strict monitoring of the waste disposal practices of market vendors who were temporarily transferred by the local government at a portion of the Queen Tuna Park.
At least 115 vendors have been allowed to occupy the park after being displaced by the city government’s clearing of roads near the main public market.
Marcilla said they will be only allowed to remain in the area and open from 4 to 9 p.m. daily until January 5 next year to facilitate the implementation of a pending project at the park and the rehabilitation of the beach area.
City Mayor Ronnel Rivera earlier directed CENRO and other concerned agencies to conduct regular cleanup activities in the coastal areas of the city, including the beaches near the Queen Tuna Park.
He also ordered the coastal barangays to strictly implement proper waste disposal and management in seaside communities.
The mayor said the local government will also rehabilitate the sewerage treatment facility of the city central public market as part of the remedial measures. (PNA)
