The City Agriculture Office (CAO) is advising the public to refrain from gathering, selling, and consuming all types of shellfishes and “alamang” both from Puerto Princesa Bay and Honda Bay.
City Agriculturist Melissa Macasaet told Palawan Daily News (PDN) Friday, this is due to their continuous water sampling, which resulted positive for toxic microorganism that causes Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP).
“Huwag muna tayong kakain, huwag muna tayong manginginas, huwag munang magbe-benta ng shellfish at saka alamang. Iyong water sample kasi kino-continue pa rin natin ‘yon kaya advise kaagad ng Provincial Laboratory under sa Provincial Agriculturist, na mataas. So sabi nila, mabuti nang mag-release muna ng local red tide warning [for] Honda Bay at saka Puerto Princesa Bay,” said Macasaet.
City Agriculturist Macasaet the local red tide warning for Honday Bay was released Thursday, while Puerto Princesa Bay remains under the same condition since their March 20 advisory.
Macasaet said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which temporarily halted the regular flights, CAO was not able to submit shell-meat samples to Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) laboratory in Quezon City for red tide toxin analysis.
“Na-check namin, pinapakiusap namin doon sa cargo baka daw may schedule ng flight nang Tuesday. So baka makiusap kami na isama doon kung hindi mai-do-door to door, pinakiusapan ko na kaagad ‘yong sa BFAR sa national laboratory na kung puwedeng pick-up-in nila sa airport ‘yong shell meat sample,” she said.
Macasaet also mentioned the necessity of establishing a marine biotoxin laboratory at least under the Provincial Fishery Office (PFO).