The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) recently released its 2025 water quality monitoring data for El Nido, revealing significant improvements in the towns’s coastal waters.
Several El Nido beaches now meet national safety standards, according to the EMB report. Twelve beachfront sampling stations—Nacpan Beach, Maremegmeg III, Maremegmeg I, Lugadya, Masagana, Corong-Corong Cove I, Calitang Beach, Twin Beach, Caalan Beach, Maligaya, Sitio Caalan, and Lio Beach—recorded an average fecal coliform level of 36.5 most probable number (MPN) per 100 milliliters (mL). This figure is well below the 100 MPN/100 mL threshold for Class SB coastal waters deemed safe for recreational activities.
This progress stands in sharp contrast to the EMB’s 2024 data, which reported alarmingly high fecal coliform levels in many tourist-frequented beaches, with some exceeding 1,200 MPN/100 mL.
Remarkably, this improvement has occurred with minimal large-scale intervention from local or national authorities. Palawan Water, the operator of El Nido’s sewage treatment facility, has intensified efforts to connect commercial establishments and residential homes to its system, achieving notable success. The sewage treatment plant (STP) reports high connection rates: 96.2% in Cluster 6 (Northern Masagana), 84% in Cluster 7 (Southern Masagana), and 73.4% in Cluster 4 (Maligaya).
Despite these gains, challenges persist. Bacuit Bay and Corong-Corong outfalls remain unsafe, likely prompting recommendations for a temporary closure.
What accounts for this improvement? Is it the partial success of the STP, natural factors such as seasonal dilution, or unreported local initiatives? While the contrast between 2024’s high contamination and 2025’s safer levels is encouraging, gaps in enforcement and infrastructure remain. Without consistent, transparent water quality monitoring, public reporting, and sustained investment in sewerage systems, El Nido’s fragile recovery remains a question. The government needs to capitalize on this momentum to ensure this place remains safe for tourists and residents alike.
