Tagb ‘red tide’ needs

engineering solution

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol March 22 (PIA) –Engineering solution is the most appropriate and sustainable solution to the persistent harmful algal bloom (HAB) or most commonly called “red tide,” in Tagbilaran Bay.

Both Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Assistant Director for Technical Services Isidro M. Velayo Jr., and Regional Director for the Central Visayas Director Mario Ruinata agree that unless there is a better flow of the water especially the artificial lagoon caused by the confining land bridges leading to Borja Bridge in Mansasa Junction and the Causeway Bridge in Poblacion I, the problem would continue.

Both bridges feature a long land-filled land bridges or causeway, broken only by a short span to allow the tides to pass in and out the artificial lagoon, but the exits are too narrow to allow the free flowing of water.

This also causes most of the tide water in the lagoon to quickly pass through and follow a strong current moving out of the other bridge, and leaving the water away from the current normally swirling on the sides and keeping the algal blool contamination still within the lagoon.

This is the reason why red tide has not been eliminated in the waters there, Dir Velayo, who traces his roots from Calape said.

Last March 15, BRAF issued Shellfish Bulleting No. 05, series of 2024, warning people living in areas affected by red time to be aware of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) due to the red tide, the coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran included.

The bulletin issued bans the eating of all types of shellfish and shrimps gathered in the subject areas as these are not safe for human consumption, as these shellfish and shrimps feed on the affected algae and could in turn be toxic for humans.

In a separate interview during one of his visits to Bohol, former Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said there was a plan to introduce culverts along the entire stretch of the land bridges to facilitate the flow and introduce move outlets for the proper drainage of the artificial lagoon.

RD Ruinata also pointed out that the issue of the HAB manifesting as red tide is also possibly fed by improper solid waste management in the area.

The coastline of the artificial lagoon from Tagbilaran to Dauis is heavily populated, while some storm drains empty into the lagoon, adding more issues to the already complex situation.

And while waiting for the engineering solution to be implemented, Velayo said BFAR would lobby for alternative livelihood in a form of fish cages for those affected by the nearly a decade long scourge of their gleaning areas.

Shellfish, being bottom feeders, could eat those algae and retain them in their system making them dangerous for human consumption.

As to the fish cages, these could be deployed in areas away from the affected waters, so the fish could be free from contamination, Velayo said.

On his part, RD Ruinata said all they could do is to help continue to monitor the levels of HAB in the area and publish the information immediately. (rahc/PIA_7/Bohol)

ENGINEERING SOLUTION. Solving the red tide especially in the artificial lagoon formed by the land bridges leading to the two bridges in Tagbilaran-Dauis could be simple a drainage system that facilitates the flow of the tides now hampered by the narrow sluice gates of the bridges, propose both BFAR RD Mario Ruinata and Assistant Director for Technical Services Isidro M. Velayo Jr., in an interview. (PIABohol)