ORANI, Bataan — Senator Cynthia Villar on Tuesday called on the people and concerned government agencies to fulfill their responsibility in cleaning up Manila Bay, which she described as dirtier now than 10 years ago.
The lawmaker, who chairs the Senate’s agriculture and food committee, made the call a decade after the Supreme Court (SC) ordered the bay’s clean-up, rehabilitation and preservation.
“The SC issued the mandamus in 2008. We were given 10 years to do it but now after 10 years, instead of being cleaned, it has grown five times dirtier than 10 years ago,” Villar said as she led a coastal clean-up and gave assistance to fisherfolk.
The mandamus agencies are the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), departments of education, health, agriculture, public works, environment, budget, and interior, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), and Local Water Utilities Agency (LWUA).
Villar attributed Manila Bay’s pollution to the absence of toilets, and estimated seven million families residing around the bay, 3.5 million of whom are in Metro Manila.
“The DOH (Department of Health) should solve the seven million lack of toilets in the next five years. It is their responsibility,” she said.
She also asked the MWSS to check the sewerage systems in its coverage areas.
“Another big problem is about the dumping of plastic wastes in the sea. Tons of plastic wastes are dumped in the ocean every year and this will kill the fish,” she said.
Villar said the Senate is currently investigating companies that are known sources of plastics.
She cited a prediction of a United Nations agency that by 2050, there would be more plastic than fish in the sea.
“If we protect the ocean and the sea, we protect the livelihood of poor fishermen. If the Manila Bay is clean, there will be a huge growth in the agriculture and fish industry,” she added.
Noting that 1.5 million fishermen depend on Manila Bay for livelihood, she said they have conducted a series of clean-up activities of Manila Bay, starting in Cavite followed by Pampanga and Bulacan.
Villar also distributed to Orani fishermen various livelihood assistance from BFAR, including fiberglass boats, nets, marine engines, bangus or milkfish fingerlings, solar lamps and life vests, all worth more than PHP1.4 million.
She was assisted by Bataan Governor Albert Garcia, Vice Governor Cris Garcia, Rep. Geraldine Roman, Orani Mayor Efren Pascual, and Vice Mayor Godofredo Galicia. (Ernie Esconde/PNA)
