Panay River in six Capiz villages under contamination watch

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Panay, Capiz, issued an advisory urging residents not to use or swim in the Panay River after the waterway turned green, raising concerns of possible contamination.

The advisory, based on reports from the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, covers barangays Tico, Agbalo, Cogon, Magubilan, Lus-onan, and Linao.

Mayor Jonathan “Sonny” Besa directed the warning to residents in the affected villages.

The cause of the discoloration has not been determined. Water samples have been submitted to the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Capiz for quality analysis.

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