A toxic greenish goo has once again sprouted along the shores of Laguna de Bay.
And for residents who depend on the lake for their livelihood, the presence of this greenish material could spell disaster.
That disaster: a possibility of a major fish kill – a calamity that can also kill humans living along the lake, both through the contamination of their water supply and the deprivation of their livelihood
What's worse, however, is that the main government agency that is supposed to ensure the ecological health of the Philippines' largest freshwater lake hasn't learned the lessons from past incidents and taken steps to avert a potential environmental (and economic) catastrophe.
This, after all, is not the first time such an incident has happened at Laguna de Bay, long a cause of concern for environmentalists due to pollution and overfishing.
First signs
The first signs of trouble were reported by residents of Talim Island in Rizal: the formation of algal blooms in the island's shoreline.
The greenish algae, known locally as "liya," were first spotted by residents in Talim Island on July 8.
This was followed by "bizarre" behavior of fish and other marine creatures in the lake.
Large masses of small shrimps and goby fish, locally known as "biya" were also spotted washing up dead along the shores of Talim Island.
As of press time, there has been no reported formation of algae within Laguna province itself.
However, the reports of algae formation on other parts of the lake has had fishermen who depend on Laguna Lake's livelihood concerned, although some have said that this is a "natural occurrence."
Regular occurrence
Algal blooms in Laguna de Bay have long been part of the life cycle of the lake, according to locals who depend on the lake for their livelihood.
These clumps of algae or "liya" are known to be a source of food for fish in the lake, longtime fishermen claimed.
In recent years, however, the threat of toxic algae in Laguna de Bay has become more pronounced due to the effects of pollution, overfishing, and climate change.
"The lake has increasingly experienced harmful algal blooms... [which] produce cyanotoxins, which are dangerous chemical compounds that accumulate in the water and in fish," a report by the Department of Science and Technology's Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) in 2025 has noted.
Deadly goo
In excess, algal blooms can cause major fish kills as they can block light to aquatic plants deeper in the water, clog or harm fish gills, and deprive fish of much-needed oxygen.
Aside from this, the DOST-PCARRD has warned that "serious risks can be faced by humans who consume contaminated fish, including damage to the liver, cells, and even DNA."
"Laguna Lake, one of Metro Manila’s major sources of bangus and tilapia, as well as drinking water, is particularly prone to algal blooms, especially during El Niño," another report by the University of the Philippines – Diliman campus published in January 2025 also noted.
The recent formation of algal blooms at parts of Laguna de Bay coincided with weather experts’ predictions of a severe El Niño period on record for 2026.
According to the US Climate Prediction Center (CPC), there is an 81 percent chance of a "very strong" El Niño between October and December that would rank among the largest such events in the historic record going back to 1950.
Lack of monitoring, regulation
But what is more concerning, according to researchers who have studied the periodic algal bloom at Laguna de Bay, is that there is a lack of "a proper monitoring system or strict safety regulations" to ensure the safety of those who depend on the lake for their livelihood.
Case in point: at the same time residents near Laguna de Bay noted a sudden surge in algal bloom and shrimp washing ashore, residents in Binangonan, Rizal noted dirty, foul-smelling water coming from a pipe directly into Laguna de Bay.
In a statement Friday, June 10, the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) said it has responded to the reports on social media about the pipe discharge, which was allegedly conducted by the Manila Water Company, Inc. (MWCI).
“According to the initial response provided by MWCI, the discharge was part of the flushing and disinfection process for the new pipes of their East Bay Transmission Mains Phase 2 project, which is currently being undertaken by their contractor,” LLDA said in its statement.
Notably, however, the agency added that “MWCI belatedly submitted a letter-request regarding this activity to the Office of the General Manager (OGM) via email yesterday, July 9, 2026, at 4:32 p.m. Without waiting for the evaluation, clearance, or formal response of the LLDA, MWCI proceeded with the flushing and discharge operations.”
Here’s some advice to LLDA officials; let’s just admit that your agency has been powerless (and wishy-washy) in resolving the issues of pollution in Laguna de Bay.
That a private corporation managed to flout the law by discharging suspect water into Laguna de Bay reeks of incompetence in the part of the LLDA.
When are these officials going to take proactive measures to ensure the ecological health and safety in Laguna de Bay – when fishermen are left without livelihood and consumers are left at risk of eating fish contaminated with toxic liya?
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonNews