The City Government of Puerto Princesa has intensified its monitoring and inspection of public markets to confiscate shellfish and shellfish products to protect the public against Red Tide toxins present in both Puerto Princesa Bay and Honda Bay.
Bantay Dagat, which is now part of the enforcement arm of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO), has confiscated assorted shellfish products in support of the Local Red Tide Advisory issued on October 20, 2020 by the City Government. Luisito Garcia, head of Bantay Dagat, said that their team immediately conducted monitoring, inspection, and confiscation of shellfish products during the last week of October.
As of writing, Bantay Dagat has confiscated some ¾ kilo of sikad-sikad, 7 ¾ kilos or aripuros, 15 kilos of balilit, 5 kilos of bagasay, 17 kilos of kibaw and 71 bottles of salted preserve shell (dayok) from the following areas: Old Public Market, a talipapa in Bucana, Barangay Matahimik, and a talipapa in Barangay Iwahig.
Garcia reported that no shellfish products were displayed at the New Market in Barangay San Jose and in the talipapa located in Barangay Sicsican and Barangay Tagburos.
The local authorities warned the public not to collect, sell, and eat shellfishes following the Local Red Tide Advisory and the Shellfish Bulletin of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) due to the presence of Red Tide toxins within Puerto Princesa Bay and Honda Bay.