DILG to convene mayors on Manila Bay rehab today

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will convene today 178 city and municipal mayors to discuss the rehabilitation efforts for Manila Bay.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said the local chief executives’ forum on the Manila Bay cleanup would be held at the New World Hotel.

The forum aims to keep mayors abreast of their roles and responsibilities in the bay’s rehabilitation, Año said.

“Local government officials should be at the forefront of efforts to clean up, rehabilitate and preserve the waters of Manila Bay. They should be more proactive in encouraging the cooperation of their constituents and other stakeholders to bring back its glory,” he said.

Año is expected to discuss problems, which hamper efforts in improving the bay’s condition.

Mayors of towns and cities within the Manila Bay watershed area in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) are expected to attend the forum.

Also expected to join the forum are officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the lead agency tasked to clean up Manila Bay.

Año cited the writ of continuing mandamus issued by the Supreme Court (SC) on Dec. 18, 2008 mandating the DILG and 12 other agencies to rehabilitate Manila Bay.

To ensure compliance with the SC order, the DILG directed local government units to do their parts in helping the government to rehabilitate the bay.

Non-compliant local chief executives may face administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman for dereliction of duty, DILG spokesman and Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya said.

Around 40,000 commercial establishments in the National Capital Region are subjects for inspection for environmental compliance.

Promenaders yesterday trooped to the Baywalk area in Malate, but they were barred from swimming in the bay.

The “Battle for Manila Bay” started on Jan. 27 with the so-called solidarity walk attended by government officials and volunteers from the Quirino Grandstand to the Baywalk area. – With Rey Galupo