DENR orders 178 mayors: Clean up Manila Bay waterways

MANILA, Philippines — Mayors of 178 cities and municipalities surrounding Manila Bay should do their share in its rehabilitation by cleaning up its rivers and estuaries, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu said yesterday.

“We have to clean all 47 esteros and all the rivers that contribute to the pollution of Manila Bay,” he said.

“Once we clean the esteros and rivers, garbage will not go out to Manila Bay. We’ll make it a point that the water that reaches Manila Bay is clean,” Cimatu added.

Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 provides that local government units (LGUs) are primarily responsible for waste segregation and disposal.

Cimatu also called on LGUs to identify the sources of water pollution in their localities and do something about it.

He cited Tullahan River, the longest river that drains into Manila Bay; Vitas in Tondo, Manila; and Pasig and Parañaque rivers as among those that need to be cleaned.

Mayors should make sure garbage collection contractors in their localities comply with conditions in their contract, including adherence to environmental laws, he said.

Meanwhile, DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said he will meet with Cavite City Mayor Bernardo Paredes to discuss how the city’s transfer station – a processing site for the temporary deposition of waste can be developed to ensure that 17 tons of garbage unloaded there each day will not affect the rehabilitation of Manila Bay.

He said it is possible that much of the garbage that end up in the bay come from the transfer station.

If Paredes does not do anything about the issue, the DENR may file charges of violation of the solid waste management law against him.