ORMOC BAY. Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres Gomez, together with other city officials and the Environmental Management Bureau, poses for a photo after the turnover of real-time water quality monitoring equipment placed at the Ormoc Bay. (ORMOC CITY LGU)
TACLOBAN CITY — Ormoc Bay is now among six sites in the country equipped with a Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring Equipment (RTWQME), deployed by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) on August 20 to track the health of vital water bodies.
The system will measure dissolved oxygen, turbidity, salinity, and pH levels, allowing authorities to quickly detect pollution or algal blooms and act to protect marine ecosystems. Other sites include Lake Sebu, Sarangani Bay, Siargao, Lake Buhi, and Boracay.
Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez welcomed the project, saying it supports her vision of making Ormoc a “blue zone” where residents live long, healthy lives in a clean environment.
City Councilor Lalaine Marcos, chair of the environment committee, added that the initiative affirms the city’s gains in conservation and sustainability.
Officials said protecting Ormoc Bay safeguards not only livelihoods but also the city’s cultural identity.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
