Panay residents told to protect river after contamination

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — Mayor Jonathan “Sonny” Besa on Tuesday, April 28, urged residents not to throw waste into the Panay River or use it as a dumping site.

“Ang suba importante nga maprotektahan bangud ginakuhaan ini sang pangabuy-anan kag ginakaon man ang mga isda nga diri ginakuha,” the mayor said, adding that the river is also used for bathing and as a playground for children.

Besa said the local government unit is taking steps to restore the river after the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office of Panay, Capiz, issued an advisory Friday, April 24, urging residents near the Panay River to refrain from swimming, fishing, washing clothes, or eating fish from the area after the river tested positive for fecal coliform.

Ramie Detaru, MENRO Panay head, earlier said the finding was based on a recent water quality assessment by the Environmental Management Bureau.

Detaru said the presence of algae in the water may be attributed to the bacteria.

Detaru said fecal coliform in the river may have come from human, animal, and organic waste.

Fecal coliform bacteria originate in the intestines of warm-blooded animals and are excreted in feces.

They are used as indicator organisms for fecal contamination in water and food, signaling the possible presence of disease-causing pathogens.

The advisory was issued to inform the public and prevent possible contamination, particularly through skin contact.

Besa reminded local officials and residents from barangays Tico, Agbalo, Cogon, Lus-onan, Magubilan, Bahit, Binangig, and Linao to strictly monitor the river and prevent waste dumping.

The national government recently allocated PHP 1 million for the Zero Open Defecation program, which will be supplemented by local funds for the construction of public toilets in affected areas.

The Panay River is a major waterway in the municipality, and residents in riverside barangays depend on it for domestic use and livelihood activities.

It is also the water source of the Metro Roxas Water District, which supplies consumers in Roxas City and the towns of Panitan, Panay, and Ivisan.