• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The coastal waters of Bacolod City and neighboring Talisay City, Silay City, E.B. Magalona, Victorias City, and Hinigaran in Negros Occidental remain free of the toxic red tide, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said.
The waters of Sapian Bay, straddling Ivisan and Sapian in Capiz; Mambuquiao, Camanci, and Batan in Aklan, the coastal waters of Altavas, Batan, and New Washington in Batan Bay, Aklan; and that of Pontevedra, Panay, Pilar, Roxas City, and President Roxas in Capiz, dubbed as the seafood capital of the Philippines, are also free of the paralytic shellfish poison (PSP), along with Tambobo, Siit Bays, and Siaton, and Bais Bay in Bais, Negros Oriental, and several other areas all over the country.
But BFAR, in its latest advisory posted Feb. 26, said that shellfishes collected and tested from the coastal waters of Milagros in Masbate; Leyte, Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; and of Tungawan in Zamboanga Sibugay province are still positive for PSP, or toxic red tide, that is beyond the regulatory limit.
All types of shellfish and alamang gathered from these areas are not safe for human consumption, BFAR national director Elizer Salilig said in the advisory.
“Fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and the internal organs, such as gills and intestines, are removed before cooking,” he added. | CGC
