Gov. Erico Aumentado ordered the closure of the San Jose outfall. This was contained in a strongly worded letter of the governor to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Sec. Jose Lito L. Atienza, Jr., following laboratory tests which showed coliform contamination and toxic and deleterious pollutants coming from the drainage outfall which was ordered open by the city mayor last Nov. 6.
The governor earnestly appealed to Sec. Atienza to close the outfall and open it only during heavy rains to prevent flooding along CPG North Ave., but immediately close the outfall thereafter.
This is the recommendation of PENRO Nestor Canda, the governor said after Sec. Atienza asked for an investigation and recommendation on the impending environmental problem in the city.
DENR authorities were alarmed that coliform are too numerous to be counted (2,000 colonies/100 ml) as shown in the lab test of the University of San Carlos Water Laboratory test and another test of the Provincial Health Office which showed 2,400 colonies per 100 ml.
