RED TIDE WARNING STILL UP IN BATAAN

 CITY OF BALANGA, BATAAN-  The Provincial Agricultural Office announces that the coastal areas in the province is still under shellfish ban.

 This came after the two consecutive tests recently conducted by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources were found negative but, unfortunately the 3rd test turned out  positive with 76mg/100mg STx level on the shellfis gathered from Samal, Bataan used as a variable of BFAR higher than the tolerable limit of 60mg/ 100mg STx level.

Although some of the Bataeños are already selling and eating some shellfish in the Province of Bataan, Ms. Imelda Inieto, Bataan Provincial Agriculturist, suggested to the people of Bataan not to take chances even though as of this moment no medical case is reported due to eating said shellfishes caught along the waters of Bataan.

BFAR will conduct another series of tests on the 3rd week of May, with the interval of every 3 weeks of conducting examinations, and that the ban will be expected to be lifted on the month of July if those 3 consecutive examinations turns out a negative result.

 Meanwhile, Inieto states that they have already suggested to BFAR Central Office the upgrading of the tolerable limit of Saxi-Toxin level from 60mg/100mg STx to 80mg/100mg considering the people of Bataan whose work is concentrated on raising and selling shellfishes. BFAR, however complies with many processes to ensure the safety of the public.