Siaton: Water at the Tambobo Bay in Siaton, Negros Oriental has been found to meet the quality and safety standards set by the government, an official of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Friday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Commodore Christopher Auro, commander of the Coast Guard District Southern Visayas (CGDSV), stated that the results were based on water samples taken by teams from the PCG and Metro Dumaguete Water (MDW) from three locations in the bay on June 2. He emphasized that this initial monitoring indicated compliance with the standards set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Auro noted that while the results are promising, the parameter for coliform presence requires further testing. MDW, a private company, is partnering for the first time with a government organization to ensure the quality and safety of water in Tambobo Bay for both people and the ecosystem.

He expressed gratitude to MDW for their cooperation in testing the water quality at the bay, which is home to at least 60 yachts. Auro highlighted the PCG's mandate to safeguard the marine ecosystem through its Marine Environmental Protection Unit and announced plans for regular water quality monitoring, with hopes for additional collaborations with the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau and Silliman University.

Tambobo Bay is particularly vulnerable to red tide toxins, especially during the rainy season. In a statement, MDW said its partnership with the PCG for free water testing aligns with its Safe Water for All advocacy and commitment to water resource stewardship. MDW chief operating officer Robert Cabiles emphasized that the test aims to provide valuable data for informed decision-making to benefit the community.

Auro stressed the importance of regular monitoring due to environmental hazards posed by the yachts, such as oil spills, harmful algal blooms, or unregulated waste disposal.