In a word, Manila Bay stinks. Decades-long inflow of waste and untreated discharges into the Bay has resulted in one of the most polluted waters in the world. (Manila is also unlucky in having lazy mayors who have done nothing to clean up the city.) The coliform bacteria level in Manila Bay has been measured at 330 million mpn (most probable number) per 100 milliliters with the safe level at 100 mpn per 100 milliliters. The people swimming in the bay during the summer months have no idea how dirty the waters are with millions of disease-causing organisms swirling around and entering their bodies.

Tiglao, G. (2019, January 30). Manila Bay clean-up: Gargantuan and historic endeavor. Manila Bulletin, p. 9.