NINE out of 19 bathing beaches or stations along Manila Bay are considered to be among its most polluted portions, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
These areas include the waters off the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex, which was recorded as having a fecal coliform contamination of 1.6 billion most probable number (MPN) per 100 milliliters (ml) in the fourth quarter of 2015. Other dangerous areas for swimming and other forms of skin contact are the waters off the Mall of Asia with 850 million MPN/100 ml; Navotas Fishport at 2 billion MPN; Philippine Estates Authority Tollways Corp. with 1.1 billion MPN; and Luneta Park at 900 million MPN.
The other stations and beaches that registered coliform contamination above the acceptable standard of 1,000 MPN/100 ml were the waters off Mattel (close to 60,000 MPN/100 ml as of the first quarter of 2016); San Isidro (80,000 MPN); Celebrity Beach (50,000 MPN); and Villa Criselda (10,000 MPN).
President Duterte has announced a massive cleanup and rehabilitation of Manila Bay, which will be spearheaded by the DENR and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). The DENR is targeting to reduce the average coliform contamination in the bay to about 250 million to 270 million MPN/100 ml by the end of 2019.
In its presentation before the Cabinet meeting on January 7, a copy of which was obtained by the BusinessMirror, the DENR laid out the responsibilities of other government agencies included in the mandamus of the Supreme Court issued in 2008, ordering them to clean up the bay.
Aside from the DENR and DILG, other mandamus agencies are the departments of Education (DepEd), Health (DOH), Agriculture (DA), Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Budget and Management (DBM), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine National Police-Maritime Group (PNP-MG), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA).
DENR—Implement cleanup plan for Manila Bay and coordinate with mandamus agencies, and manage water quality;
DILG—Direct all local government units in Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga and Bataan to inspect all factories, commercial establishments and private homes along the banks of major and minor river systems in their areas that eventually discharge water into Manila Bay and the lands abutting the bay, and inspect whether these have wastewater treatment facilities or hygienic septic tanks;
MWSS—Provide, install, operate and maintain the necessary adequate wastewater treatment facilities in Metro Manila, Rizal and Cavite where needed at the earliest time possible.
LWUA—Through local water districts and in coordination with the DENR, provide, install, operate and maintain sewerage and sanitation facilities and ensure efficient and safe collection, treatment and disposal of sewage in Laguna, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga and Bataan at the soonest possible time;
DA through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources—Improve and restore the marine life of Manila Bay; and assist LGUs in developing the fisheries and aquatic resources in the bay;
PNP/PNP-MG—Apprehend violators of PD 979 (revising PD 600 on marine pollution), RA 8550 (Development Management and Conservation of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources), and other existing laws and regulations designed to prevent marine pollution in the Manila Bay;
PPA—Adopt measures to prevent discharge and dumping of solid and liquid wastes and other ship-generated wastes into Manila Bay from vessels docked at ports, and apprehend the violators;
MMDA—Dismantle and remove all structures, constructions and other encroachments established or built in violation of RA 7279 (Urban Development and Housing Act) and other applicable laws along the Pasig-Marikina-San Juan Rivers, the National Capital Region (Parañaque-Zapote, Las Piñas) Rivers and connecting waterways and esteros in Metro Manila; as well as establish and maintain sanitary landfill within its territorial jurisdiction;
DPWH—Remove and demolish all structures, constructions and other encroachment built in breach of RA 7279 and other applicable laws in rivers in Bulacan, Bataan, Cavite and Laguna de Bay and other rivers connecting waterways and esteros that discharge wastewater into the Manila Bay;
DOH—Determine if all licensed septic and sludge companies have the proper facilities for the treatment and disposal of fecal sludge and sewage coming from septic tanks;
DepEd—Integrate lessons on pollution prevention, waste management, environmental protection in school curricula of all levels to inculcate importance of achieving and maintaining a balanced and healthful ecosystem in the Manila Bay; and
DBM—Consider incorporating adequate budget in the General Appropriations Act to cover expenses relating to cleanup, restoration and preservation of the water quality of the Manila Bay.
In an interview, DENR Undersecretary for Attached Agencies Sherwin S. Rigor confirmed about P46 billion is needed for the complete rehabilitation and cleanup of Manila Bay. “But we don’t need this amount immediately this year,” he said, even as Malacañang gave its nod to using the road user’s tax to fund the cleanup.
While lawmakers have yet to approve legislation abolishing the Road Board, Rigor said, government agencies tasked to undertake the cleanup “can use our respective budgets.” The DENR alone will be spending some P1.75 billion over three years to deploy silt curtains, install temporary sewerage treatment plants, and recharge aquifers. (See, “Road funds also eyed for Manila Bay cleanup,” in the BusinessMirror, January 9, 2019).