By Catherine Teves/PNA
MANILA — Government gained another partner for rehabilitating Manila Bay.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Tuesday signed with integrated property developer SM Prime Holdings (SMPH) Inc. the memorandum of understanding (MOU) formalizing the company’s participation in the rehabilitation.
“SMPH is now entering into an MOU with DENR, Pasay and Paranaque cities to develop and implement a comprehensive program intended to reduce pollution in Estero de Tripa de Gallina and Paranaque River, two critical tributaries of Manila Bay,” environment chief Roy Cimatu announced at the signing ceremony.
He thanked SMPH for agreeing to become a clean-up partner.
DENR also appreciates Pasay and Paranaque LGUs’ continuing efforts on addressing wastes in respective communities to lessen pollution there and complement the clean-up SMPH will undertake, he noted.
Such moves of SMPH, Pasay and Paranaque are essential particularly as DENR data show water quality in Estero de Tripa de Gallina and Paranaque River is still below the agency’s standards, he said.
“We can’t win the battle for Manila Bay if we can’t improve water quality in waterways,” he said.
Estero de Tripa de Gallina and Paranaque River are polluted waterways south of Manila.
Both are among the waterways DENR targets to clean up with the help of partners and cooperation of LGUs concerned to mitigate flow of pollutants into Manila Bay.
Government needs clean-up partners as it lacks resources for solely undertaking the work, according to the DENR.
Cleaning up waterways that either directly or indirectly discharge into Manila Bay, relocating informal settlers, and educating the public on solid waste and other environmental matters are the major activities for rehabilitating Manila Bay.
“The key to Manila Bay’s rehabilitation is addressing the waste problem at source,” said DENR Undersecretary Rod Garcia at the signing ceremony.
DENR adapted such strategy as trash that people throw into waterways flow in these channels and eventually end up in Manila Bay, he noted.
SMPH chairperson Henry Sy Jr. assured his company’s full cooperation on the rehabilitation.
“Rest assured SMPH will always be your partner in environmental endeavors,” he said at the signing ceremony.
The MOU’s signing is a milestone for SMPH, noted the company’s president Jeffrey Lim.
“Initially, what we’ll do is more of solid waste clean-up,” he said.
He said SMPH will eventually meet again with DENR as well as Pasay and Paranaque LGUs to further discuss the work involved so this company can set a budget and timetable for its commitment in Estero de Tripa de Gallina and Paranaque River.
Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto acknowledged cleaning both waterways is not an easy task but believes commitments made under the MOU will greatly help.
“With the MOU, we’ll make concerted effort to restore those waterways to their former glory,” he said.
Paranaque City Administrator Fernando Soriano is also optimistic about the clean-up partnership.
“This commitment for the environment is a welcome development for the city,” he said at the event, speaking on behalf of Mayor Edwin Olivarez.
In January 2019, government launched Manila Bay’s rehabilitation to make this water body fit again for swimming and other forms of contact recreation.
Conglomerate San Miguel Corporation already joined the rehabilitation, pledging PHP1 billion to clean Tullahan River which is among Manila Bay’s major tributaries.
