BFAR-7 Assures: Seafood, Safe to Eat
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – 7 (BFAR) reiterates: seafood are safe for consumption.
During the recent Association of Government Information Officers-Philippine Information Agency (AGIO-PIA) Forum last January 22, 2019, BFA said in the past week, two hospitals were put in hot water after their waste surfaced in the waters of Mactan Channel.
False information started circulated stating that people should not eat seafood as it might have been contaminated by the hospital waste. Some even said that it could cause HIV and other diseases.
“Wa gyud ta’y kahadlukan kay atong mga isda, plankton ang kaunon ana, (We have nothing to fear because our fishes feed on planktons.),” assured Ms. Alma Saavedra, Information Officer of BFAR-7.
Dr. Van Philip Baton of the Department of Health (DOH) repeatedly stressed that contracting HIV through eating fish is impossible. Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV can only be transmitted through unprotected sex, unsterile syringes, and contaminated blood and organ transfusion.
BFAR-7 is asking the public to stop spreading fake news regarding the issue as it does not just scare the people but also affects the livelihood of fishermen and fish vendors. (Bridgette May Bayhon/PIA7)
