The Manjuyod White Sandbar in Negros Oriental has been closed temporarily due to the contamination of the local water supply.
In an order issued on Monday, Mayor Raffy Alipio Andaya said the water discoloration was caused by wastewater discharged from a collapsed dike in a lagoon of a nearby distillery company.
Alipio said the dike sustained cracks from an earthquake and heavy rainfall that occurred in the past few days.
He said the contamination poses health and environmental hazards,which required immediate preventive actions to ensure the safety of visitors, residents and stakeholders.
The municipal government and its disaster risk reduction and management council are coordinating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other concerned government agencies for the conduct of water quality testing, assessment and monitoring.