Baseco beach in Tondo, Manila, was filled with thousands of Manilans on Easter Sunday, out to enjoy even just a few minutes of wading in the cool waters of the bay on a specially hot summer day. They can no longer do this in the waters off Roxas Blvd. and Rizal Park, where wire fences keep the people from getting to the water and signs tell them the water is not safe for swimming. The water in that part of the bay, especially near Remedios St. in Malate was found at one time to have a coliform bacteria level of 35 million MPN (most probable number). It seems there is a sewer nearby spewing untreated human and animal wastes into the bay. After the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) closed down the Manila Zoo and other polluting places in Malate, coliform levels went down in the area.

Step up bay cleanup as it continues to draw people. (2019, April 24). Manila Bulletin, p. 6.