DENR imposes 30-day deadline on Bulacan river system cleanup

MANILA, Philippines - Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza has given local officials in Bulacan a 30-day deadline to start cleaning up the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando river system.

Atienza warned that they face administrative charges before the environmental courts should they fail to comply with his directive to put a stop to the continued pollution of the river system by clearing it of garbage.

During a stakeholders meeting at the DENR Social Hall in Quezon City last Thursday, Atienza stressed the need for a collective effort among the seven local government units surrounding the river system – the cities of Caloocan and Valenzuela in Metro Manila, and San Jose del Monte City and the towns of Meycauayan, Marilao, Obando and Sta. Maria, all in Bulacan.  

The Blacksmith Institute has identified the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando river system as one of the dirtiest or worst polluted places in the world.

“The continuing mandamus imposed by the Supreme Court last December for Manila Bay’s rehabilitation obligates us at the DENR to take the necessary legal recourse to compel the concerned local government units to do their part in cleaning up their rivers whose polluted state directly impacts on the condition of Manila Bay,” Atienza said.

“Enough has been done to analyze why the river is dirty, and putting a stop to wanton throwing of garbage into it is the first step,” he added.

Last March, Atienza ordered a thorough investigation into the continued dumping of waste into the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando river system, as well as the filing of charges against local officials who have been negligent in their duties to protect the water body.

At that time, Atienza already noted the “enormous garbage” that practically covered the Prenza Dam in Marilao, saying, “The dam looks like an open dump.”

He declared that the pollution of the Marilao River has worsened since he last visited the Prenza Dam several months ago.

The Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando river system, which stretches up to 55 kilometers, has been identified as one of the country’s 50 endangered rivers due to heavy pollution. 

DENR records show it has consistently shown excessive levels of heavy metals like chromium, cadmium and lead. It has also registered zero level of dissolved oxygen and high levels of organic pollution.

The river’s pollution was blamed primarily on heavy industries along its banks such as tanneries, textile factories, gold refineries, and jewelry-making, electroplating, livestock and poultry and other manufacturing establishments.

In May last year, the DENR declared the river system a Water Quality Management Area consistent with the Philippine Clean Water Act (Republic Act 9275).  

The DENR declaration provides the setting up of a governing board, which shall be responsible for formulating strategies in managing the river’s water quality.

The board is composed of officials from the DENR and other concerned national government agencies in the region, local officials and representatives of the private sector, people’s and non-government organizations and civil society.