Tourists Disappointed with Algae on Boracay Beach

Some tourists visiting Boracay expressed dismay at the thick algae found on the shores of the famous island, instead of the crystal-clear waters they expected, the tourists saw the waters turning green due to algae. Residents said the algae could be seen from January to March, but these disappear by summertime.

Some experts said the presence of more and more algae each year is a result of the increasing population and the lack of waste treatment facilities on the island.

Untreated water serves as fertilizer for algae, they said.

The JICA study conducted from 2010 to 2015 revealed that the coral reef ecosystem of Boracay has been destroyed due to tourism-related activities and the release of untreated waste water into the sea.

These are the reasons for the destruction of corals and the algae bloom or "green tide", it said. Coliform are bacteria that usually come from the waste of humans or animals.

It may cause skin disease and other conditions.