The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) reported that it is still conducting on-ground monitoring and assessment of potentially affected fishing areas and communities surrounding Manila Bay.
The monitoring is ongoing three weeks after the oil spill incident that happened in Limay, Bataan, DA-BFAR said.
Based on the results of its latest analyses, four municipalities in the province of Cavite, namely, Naic, Ternate, Kawit, and Maragondon, have passed the sensory evaluation for three consecutive batches of fish and other fishery species collected within the period of August 7 to 21, 2024.
Five coastal municipalities – Bacoor City, Cavite City, Noveleta, Rosario, and Tanza, on the other hand, have passed only two consecutive batches of sensory evaluation, so far, from the period of August 16 to 21, 2024.
Fish in an area can be declared safe for human consumption if samples analyzed have already passed three consecutive batches of sensory evaluation.
Based on the stated results, the public is therefore informed that fish from Naic, Ternate, Kawit, and Maragondon in the province of Cavite are now safe for human consumption.
Conversely, fish from Bacoor City, Cavite City, Noveleta, Rosario, and Tanza, are still NOT safe for human consumption.
Fish and other seafood products in the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Batangas, and Metro Manila have already been declared safe for human consumption through Bataan Oil Spill Bulletin No. 4 dated August 13, 2024, based on the result of the series of sensory evaluation conducted by the DA-BFAR.
Latest analyses, including the PAH testing, showed that fish from these waters remain safe for human consumption.
DA-BFAR urges fisherfolk and the general public to remain calm and monitor the situation through updates issued by government authorities including DA-BFAR.
