In the latest roster of firms confirmed to be polluting the waters of Manila Bay, a few big names in the dining scene have been tagged, including a Jollibee branch in Macapagal Boulevard and a Max’s chain in Ermita.
These well-known food establishments are two of 20 more businesses tagged as Manila Bay polluters by the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) along with 48 others previously identified and served with cease-and-desist orders (CDOs).
LLDA personnel arrived on a packed afternoon to serve a CDO the surprise of diners and staff of Max’s in Maria Orosa Street. Meanwhile, the Jollibee branch in Pasay has already been closed prior to the LLDA notice to give way to a broken sewage treatment plant.
Both water samples from these two restaurants were found out to contain significantly high levels of fecal coliform, approximately 160,000 most probable number (mpn) per 100 ml. The figure goes far beyond the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ standard of 200 mpn per 100 ml.
According to a statement by the management of Max’s, their branch in Orosa Street has been connected to a sewage treatment plant of Maynilad. They also said that they have since been compliant to proper wastewater discharge regulations.
Other additions to the growing list of polluters include a Chinese restaurant on F.B. Harrison Street, and a catering business and a Japanese food establishment both located in Malate, Manila.
Hotels in Manila and Pasay like The New Blue Wave, Wellcross Freight Corp., Halina Lodge/Hotel, Harrison Lodge, First Marbella Condominium Association Inc., The Biopolis (where the reported Jollibee chain is located), Heritage Condominium Corp., Ma. Natividad Building and Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila were also tagged by the LLDA.
Similarly, two Cultural Center of the Philippines buildings and another belonging to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration were slapped with violation notices.
Header photo courtesy of Earvin Perias for Inquirer.net
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Writer: CHRISTIAN SAN JOSE
