DENR: Baseco Beach in Manila not safe for swimming due to high coliform level

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) warned residents against swimming in Baseco Beach in Port Area, Manila due to the high level of coliform in the waters.

Authorities have thus been strictly monitoring the area to prevent residents from swimming especially during these days of hot weather, according to a report by Jhomer Apresto on Unang Balita on Monday.

Some residents said they were being stopped by authorities from wading in the waters.

Youths also said authorities disallowed the playing of street basketball, prompting some of them to just go fishing.

Authorities appealed to residents to comply with the directives to ensure their good health.

PAGASA's weather specialist Obet Badrina on Monday warned that the heat index in the country may get worse this April. Heat index is the measure of the temperature that a person feels, which is different from the actual air temperature

“Lalo na ngayong buwan nga ng Abril na inaasahan natin na mas lalo pang tiitindi 'yung init na nararamdaman sa malaking bahagi ng ating bansa,” he said.

(Especially this month of April, we expect that the heat in a large part of our country will intensify even more.)

To prevent heat-related illnesses, PAGASA encouraged the public to limit their time spent outdoors, drink plenty of water, and avoid tea, coffee, soda as well as liquor. —KG, GMA Integrated News