𝐏𝐂𝐒𝐃𝐒 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐲 𝐄𝐥 𝐍𝐢𝐝𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝

The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff participated in the Bacuit Bay El Nido Water Quality Management Board (BBENWQMB) meeting held on May 10, 2023 via zoom.

The meeting was organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources- Environment Management Bureau (MIMAROPA) and chaired by Ms. Edna Velasco, Chief of the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO).

Representatives from various entities, including the Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Health (DOH), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSURD), local government unit of El Nido, and the business sector, were also present in the meeting.

The meeting was prompted by the results of the water quality monitoring conducted in 2022, which revealed thatBacuit-El Nido Bay, including Corong-corong, did not meet the water quality guidelines of the DENR.The fecal Coliform levels in the 5 outfalls of Corong-corong, El Nido Estero/Buena Suerte, and Cabugao/Masagana (all in Poblacion), exceeded the permissible limits.

To address this issue ando ensure the safety and welfare of the locals and tourists, the BBENWQMB resolved to implement a ‘no swimming’ policy in Bacuit Bay, conduct a reassessment of the status of the Sewage Treatment Plants (STP), and the installation portalets in different parts of the bay area.Additionally, the BBENWQMB is actively collaborating with the local government units of El Nido to resolve the water quality crisis.