Contrary to the latest story released by Rappler. com entitled “Davao Oriental State University study confirms Pujada Bay’s alarming pollution levels,” published on August 19, 2022, the bay remains “Class A” based on the latest study conducted by the Davao Oriental State University.
This was the clarification made by the alleged source of the said story Dr. Lea A. Jimenez, director of the DOrSU-based Regional Integrated Coastal Resource Management Center (RIC – XI) in the Davao Region.
Jimenez clarified that the research study entitled “Nutrient Mapping of Pujada Bay” conducted by the research team under RIC-XI in 2015 had eight water sample stations spread all over Pujada Bay. However, only two stations located near the coastal areas known as residential areas have registered the “presence of disease-causing microorganisms like the Escherichia coli found to be higher than the standard of <1.1 MPN (most probable number) on declared protected areas.” She said that all other sampling stations registered below the standard MPN. Jimenez rued how the result of their study was “pinned” to put Pujada Bay in a bad light which is the second time Rappler contributor Ferdinand Zuasola had written about it. The first article entitled “Pujada Bay a virtual cesspool,” published on June 28, 2022, claimed that “a Philippine Environmental Management Bureau (PEMB) study showed that the fecal coliform contamination of Pujada Bay has already reached more than 2,000 parts per million which is way beyond the tolerable level of 200 ppm.” Two environment officials also denied the article Zuasola quoted as the source for his story. In a released statement dated September 1, the Davao Oriental State University affirmed that Pujada Bay remains to be one of the most beautiful bays in the world. “The concentration of E.coli is still within the allowable level for coastal waters of 70MPN/100 according to DENR AO 34. Generally, the detected E.coli is still within the tolerable limit. But it is recommended for close monitoring, particularly the activities in the identified stations and their vicinity that may serve as the source of E.coli to arrest any possible increase of contamination,” the DOrSu statement read. "Pujada Bay is still pristine, despite the identified vulnerable areas which the proper authorities might take necessary measures and mitigation," Jimenez stated. In the latest study released in 2021 by DOrSU entitled “Water Profile of Pujada Bay: Implications to Management and Conservation,” the number of water sampling stations was increased to 28, of which only four stations have registered beyond the standard MPN, while the 24 other stations spread all over the Pujada Bay showed normal levels. Amy G. Ponce, a research assistant of the DOrSU team that conducted the latest study, said that Zuasola also approached her for the latest Rappler story, where she specifically stated to the writer that her professional opinion is that Pujada Bay remains a Class A bay. The total area of Pujada Bay is 174.48 square kilometers and is a protected landscape and seascape. The bay and two other bays — Mayo and Balete, were recently included in the list of the Most Beautiful Bays of the World (MBBW) back in 2020. The DOrSU study was among the works of literature submitted for consideration by the MBBW organizer’s declaration on Pujada, Mayo, and Balete bays. (CIO MATI)
