Swimming banned in 2 beaches in Panglao and El Nido — Puyat

The government has ordered a swimming ban in two beaches in Panglao, Bohol and El Nido, Palawan, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said Friday.

Puyat confirmed to INQUIRER.net that tourists and locals for the meantime, will not be allowed to swim at the Alona Beach in Bohol’s Panglao island and at El Nido’s Buena Suerte beach in Palawan because of “high coliform level.”

“We — Secretary Cimatu, Secretary Año and myself — have already personally told both mayors of Panglao and El Nido. We advised them to put up a no swimming sign,” Puyat told INQUIRER.net in a text message.

Puyat said that the coliform levels in the two beaches have exceeded the acceptable coliform count of 100 most probable number (mpn).

She said that the ban on the said beaches would be imposed “until the coliform levels are acceptable.”

Puyat said the ban is part of the ongoing rehabilitation of El Nido and Panglao.

“The ban is part of the rehabilitation. We want to protect the health of the tourists,” she said. /muf