Cordoned area in Boracay lifted as DENR says water’s coliform levels are ‘safe’

MANILA, Philippines – The cordoned area in the Boracay island has been lifted and opened again as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said test samples of the water revealed safe coliform levels.

This was after a Chinese tourist was caught on video dumping her child’s used diapers in the sand, causing a stir among Filipino netizens.

“UPDATE: The coliform test for water samples taken on August 14, 2019 by EMB-R6 showed safe levels at >1 mpn/100 ml (where the standard is set at not exceeding 100mpn/100ml),” DENR official’s statement on Thursday said.

“In view of this, DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu ordered at 5pm of August 15, the lifting of the cordon and swimming ban at the beachfront area where the “pooping” incident happened,” the department added.

The area, which was at Boracay’s Station 1, was previously closed for 48 hours in anticipation of the coliform bacteria level test.

READ: 100 meters of Boracay beach cordoned off amid video of tourist burying diapers

Health experts around the world, including Washington State’s Department of Health say that coliform bacterias in water do not cause ailments, but it could be a sign that other pathogens are present that if ingested, can lead to diarrhea, cholera, and other sicknesses.

According to authorities, they have yet to confirm the identity of the woman in the viral video, but several agencies like the Bureau of Immigration (BI) have offered its help who the tourist is.

Malacañang has recently condemned the incident, saying that the tourist may face cases for her untoward behavior.

READ: BI helps probe to identify tourists in Boracay pooping incident

READ: Palace: Pooping incident in Boracay ‘offensive’; tourists may face raps

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