Manila Zoo to be temporarily closed

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila City government ordered Tuesday the temporary closure of Manila Zoo, which was cited by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as one of  Manila Bay's "major pollutants."

News5 reported that the zoo would be closed anytime this week to facilitate the reconstruction of its sewer lines.

READ: Manila Bay rehab; DENR orders sewage treatment plants put up

Nakatakdang ipasara ngayong linggo ang Manila Zoo para mapabilis ang paggawa ng sewer lines nito, ayon sa Manila LGU. Matatandaang nadiskubre ng DENR na walang sewerage treatment plant ang zoo sa kanilang inspeksyon noong Enero 11. | via @ShylaFrancisco pic.twitter.com/VtPvfBqLkT

— News5 AKSYON (@News5AKSYON) January 22, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered the rehabilitation of Manila Bay. He said he is considering the use of the Road Users’ Tax to fund the cleanup, which would follow the rehabilitation of Boracay Island.

DENR ordered facilities and establishments around Manila Bay to put up their own sewage treatment plants last January 11.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu stressed that the establishments “cannot discharge their wastewater in the esteros.”

Manila Zoo, which is run by the city government, was one of the establishments inspected by the DENR. Its officials admitted that they do not have a sewage treatment plant.

The zoo is located near Estero de San Antonio Abad in Malate, Manila, which directly drains into the Manila Bay.

READ: Integrated effort needed for Manila Bay cleanup – Roy Cimatu

Lawyer Eric Alcovendaz, Manila City government administrator, was quoted in an ABS-CBN report as saying that Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada is “reviewing the executive order.”

Alcovendaz added that the temporary closure might be implemented on Wednesday or Thursday. — Kristine Joy Patag with a report from News5