Slimy, foul-smelling substance washes ashore at Subic beach; probe set

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — A foul-smelling, slimy substance that washed ashore at a beach resort here led to quick water sampling operations by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) following complaints from beachgoers and resort operators.

In an interview on Tuesday (July 21), All Hands Beach Resort lifeguard Jeffrey Tolentino said that a guest training for open-water swimming alerted him before 10 a.m. to an unusual substance floating near the shore.

When he examined the area, Tolentino said he found clumps of white and brownish material floating on the water that emitted a sour, foul odor.

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The incident disrupted business at the beach resort.

“Some of our guests complained and backed out after seeing and smelling the foul water. About three groups requested a refund,” he said in Filipino.

Resort personnel immediately reported the incident to their management, which coordinated with SBMA Ecology Center and Subic Water personnel who later arrived to inspect the site and collect samples.

Photos and videos taken at the site showed grayish, gelatinous clumps floating in the water. Witnesses also claimed they observed maggot-like organisms mixed with the material.

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Nicolas Robles, pollution control officer who joined SBMA Ecology personnel in inspecting the area where the floating material had accumulated said they collected two 10-liter containers and two 500-milliliter bottles of water samples for laboratory analysis.

Investigation ongoing

The SBMA Ecology Center said it conducted field verification of the contaminated waters after receiving reports of the incident and interviewed personnel from the resort.

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In its incident verification report, the agency said the floating scum had naturally dissipated by around 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Residual scum left along the shoreline was manually collected by resort personnel and placed in garbage bags for proper disposal.

The Ecology Center said water samples were collected on July 19 and submitted to Subic Water for laboratory analysis, with results expected within 15 days.

It recommended continued monitoring of the area and immediate water quality assessment and source investigation should similar incidents recur.

SBMA said it could not yet identify the source of the floating material.

“Investigation is still underway. Cannot provide additional info as of now,” the agency said.

Persistent foul odor

Nicolas Robles, pollution control officer of All Hands Beach said the Sunday incident was the first time a floating substance had appeared offshore, but not the first time employees had noticed foul odors in the area.

“We are getting frustrated with the foul odor because it is ruining our reputation with the guests who come here. They always say to us, “Your area is so clean, but why is it like that?” said Robles.

Resort personnel claimed the material appeared to be coming from a drainage outlet near the Port of Subic, which empties into the sea adjacent to All Hands Beach.

Robles said he regularly passes the area near the New Container Terminal (NCT) during cleanup activities and has long noticed unpleasant odors, especially after rainfall.

“That area smells terrible, especially when it rains,” he added.

The incident comes amid All Hands Beach’s ongoing legal battle with the SBMA over recurring foul odors that the resort says have driven away guests and hurt its business.

The resort previously sued the SBMA, alleging that foul smells from overstaying cargo containers at the Port of Subic have adversely affected its operations. /das