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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DENR fast-tracks Manila Bay's rehab, to intensify monitoring measures

DENR fast-tracks Manila Bay's rehab, to intensify monitoring measures

Published Mar 14, 2022 05:13 pm

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will implement intensified compliance monitoring (IMC) measures to track the discharge of untreated wastewater to the Manila Bay.

In a statement, DENR Acting Secretary Jim O. Sampulna said the move was prompted by the agency's discovery of more illegal wastewater discharges into the said Manila Bay.

photo: DENR

"I was informed that there are illegal drainage pipes leading to the Manila Bay and we want to find out where these are coming from so we can order the stoppage of the illegal discharges," Sampulna said on March 14.

To prevent it, Sampulna said the DENR will conduct a saturation drive and inspect all the establishments to trace where the foul smell of Manila Bay comes from.

He added that the IMC aims to ensure establishments' compliance with environmental laws such as the Republic Act (RA) 9275 or Philippine Clean Water Act, RA 9003 or Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, and Presidential Decree 1586.

Meanwhile, DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations Atty. Juan Miguel T. Cuna will oversee the IMC operations along with the agency's metropolitan environmental offices (MEOs), DENR-National Capital Region (NCR), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Central Office, EMB-NCR, and the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA).

"We will determine if these establishments have sufficient facilities to treat their wastewater and also guide them on how to comply with our environmental laws," Cuna said.

In an earlier statement, the agency revealed that making Manila Bay swimmable by the end of President Duterte's term remains its goal. In line with this, Sampulna said the monitoring would focus on the bay's water quality improvement.

Data from Manila Bay Coordinating Office (MBCO) showed that fecal coliform level near the Manila Baywalk was down to 22,500 most probable number (mpn) per 100 milliliters (mL) as of Feb. 28 from the 5.75 million mpn per 100 mL in 2019.

On the other hand, the fecal coliform level near the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach has dropped to 1,700 mpn per 100 mL as of March, from an average of 62,700 mpn per 100 mL in 2019.

Simpulna said that erring establishments and sources of illegal pipes would be penalized once traced.

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