MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) warns residents in coastal towns of Visayas and Mindanao about the high toxicity levels in shellfish. 

Based on the latest laboratory results of BFAR and the local government units (LGUs), shellfish collected from coastal waters of the following areas are still positive for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond the regulatory limit:

• Bohol
  • Dauis
  • Tagbilaran City
• Negros Oriental
  • Tambobo Bay
  • Siaton 
  • Bais Bay
  • Bais City 
• Leyte
  • Cancabato Bay
  • Tacloban City 
• Davao Oriental
  • Balite Bay
  • Mati City
• Surigao del Sur
  • Lianga Bay

The agency reminds residents that “all types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang gathered from these areas are not safe for human consumption.”

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 4A has reported that around 800 metric tons of fish died in Laguna Lake last week in the areas of Pililia and Binangonan, Rizal.

Region 4A Director Sammy Malvas clarified that the fish kill was due to the lowering of dissolved oxygen in the water and not because of any virus outbreak as some reports said.

“Kalimitan ang cause nyan ay iyong pabago-bagong weather condition natin. Halimbawa ay mainit sa araw tapos bandang hapon ay biglang bubuhos ang malakas na ulan, nagko-cause iyon ng pagbaba ng lebel ng dissolved oxygen, (Usually, the cause is the changing weather conditions. For example, the sun is up in the morning then in the afternoon, we have thunderstorms, that causes reduction in level of dissolved oxygen),” Malvas explained.

One of the viruses that can infect tilapya is the so-called ‘tilapia lake virus’ (TLV), a case of which was recorded three years ago in Bulacan.

There has been no recurrence of such incident so far according to Malvas, as they also conduct strict laboratory testing of fish seed samples before transporting them to other places.

“Nag-i-issue kasi tayo ng health certificate para doon sa transboundary movement ng mga buhay na semilya (We issue health certificates for transboundary movement of live fish seedlings),” Malvas said. 

The supply of tilapia at the Balintawak Market comes from Pampanga and Batangas and there has been no price increase. 

BFAR  assured that fish supplies in the market are safe to eat provided they are thoroughly cooked. MNP (with reports from Rey Pelayo)

The Romblon Provincial Health Office is requesting the Department of Health (DOH) for additional coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing kits for their targeted mass testing.

The health office on Saturday (April 11) began examining individuals who came in contact with the German national who tested positive for COVID-19 after conducting contact tracing.

Dr. Ederlilne Aguirre from the Provincial Health Office said they are requesting for guidelines and additional testing kits from the DOH for their mass testing.

“Ang hinihingi ay 1,500 test kits na additional pero aside from that mayroon paparating na galing daw sa DOH na ayuda o tulong sa probinsya (We are requesting for additional 1,500 test kits but aside from that the DOH already sent aid to the province),” she said.

Meanwhile, the local government continues to advise its constituents to follow the protocols under the enhanced community quarantine. –AAC (with reports from Jerickson Buñag)