MANILA — Some residents were seen swimming at Baseco beach in Manila on Wednesday, despite an existing ban on bathing in the area due to polluted waters.

According to some of them, police officers are occasionally on watch, but most of the time, they say no one is monitoring the area, allowing them to swim freely.

They added that they bring their families to Baseco beach to cool off from the intense summer heat, even though swimming there remains strictly prohibited due to unsafe water quality.

The Manila City government banned swimming at Baseco beach, citing continued contamination and visible garbage in the area.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued a similar directive, warning the public about the dirty water.

When asked why swimmers were not being told to leave, a barangay official said personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard and the PNP Maritime are stationed in the area, but they were unsure why enforcement was not being carried out.

Officers from Police Station 13 also confirmed that there is a nearby police community precinct. However, no patrolling officers were visibly present at the time.