As the summer season nears, police authorities have refrained citizens from going swimming in Baseco Beach in Port Area, Manila due to the contamination caused by high fecal coliform levels in the beach's water.
Coliform is a bacteria from the feces of a human being or animal.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Baseco Police Station (Baseco PS) said it deployed its personnel to work with Manila Police District (MPD) to heighten restrictions on the beach.
"Continues Police Presence and Area Monitoring at Baseco Beach led by PCPT RENNY R ROGERO, Duty OD, together with Baseco Paddlers and PRIMO Baseco Chapter," it captioned.
Authorities also posted a warning sign "No Swimming Zone. Unsafe for bathing due to high level of Fecal Coliform Bacteria" in front of the beach.
Meanwhile, Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire has warned about the possible effects of swimming in contaminated water.
"Kapag tayo naligo sa mga katubigan o doon sa mga pinupuntahan natin na hindi natin sigurado kung saan daloy ang tubig, maari tayo makakuha ng sakit. Unang una na diyan ay sakit sa balat. Pangalawa sakit sa tenga, kapag pumasok, maaring magka-infection," Vergeire said.
"Sakit sa mata, you'll get sore eyes also if you go and swim in this public place," she added.
Last week, reports showed that adults and children flocked to Maseco Beach and went swimming.
