By Zorayda Tecson/PNA
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional office here has called on the public to help and support the government’s efforts to rehabilitate Manila Bay.
Paquito Moreno, Jr., executive director of DENR regional office, cited on Monday the importance of cooperation, commitment and support of the Filipinos for the success of the implementation of the rehabilitation plan for Manila Bay.
“Bringing back Manila Bay to its original state is a gargantuan task for the DENR, which requires a lot of commitment, cooperation and support from other government agencies, local government units (LGU), business establishments, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders,” Moreno said.
Some 5,000 individuals from DENR regional office here and other government agencies, local government units (LGUs), business sectors, academe and civil society organizations conducted on Sunday a cleanup of Manila Bay in three provinces of Central Luzon.
The cleanup was conducted simultaneously in Bulacan, Pampanga and Bataan in Region 3, Metro Manila in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Cavite in Region 4-A on orders of Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu as the start or “D-day” of the massive cleanup and rehabilitation of the Bay.
The launching in Central Luzon was conducted at the Obando River in Barangay Tawiran in Obando, Bulacan; Guagua River in Barangay Sto. Filomina in Guagua, Pampanga and in the more than 700-meter stretch of Mariveles coastline in Barangay Lucanin in Bataan.
“Actual cleanup was conducted in these areas while the total volume of waste collected was more than 5,000 kilograms. Three thousand mangrove species were also planted in these sites to protect our coastal areas,” Moreno said.
Moreno said that the phase one of the rehabilitation program is the cleanup and water quality improvement, which involves the actual cleanup of designated esteros and waterways to reduce fecal coliform level and toxic discharges from establishments, and the implementation of solid waste management.
He added that the DENR will also mobilize other government agencies, including those mandamus agencies tasked to clean the bay — the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Department of Education, the Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Budget and Management, the Philippine Ports Authority, the Local Water Utilities and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, to carry out the rehabilitation of the bay.
Statistics from the Manila Bay Coordinating Office of DENR in Central Luzon showed that the number of informal settler families (ISF) living along the coastal areas and rivers in Bulacan is 23,051 while there are also 9,363 ISF in Pampanga and 10,166 in Bataan or a total of 42,580 families.
“Notices of violation will also be issued to non-compliant establishments or if appropriate, cease and desist orders will be issued,” Moreno added.