Eleven units of backhoes-on-barge were turned over to local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila and nearby provinces to boost the clean-up of rivers and waterways in anticipation of the adverse effects of La Niña phenomenon, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.

DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga said the equipment donation was an offshoot of their partnership with the  Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as part of the continuing efforts to clean up rivers and waterways flowing out to the Manila Bay.

Recipients of the 11 units of backhoes-on-barge are the local governments of Malabon, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Pasay, Pasig, Pateros, Quezon City, Taguig, San Fernando in Pampanga, Obando in Bulacan, and Bacoor in Cavite.

The equipment cost P491.46 million and its procurement was aimed at providing LGUs with tools and heavy equipment to dredge and desilt waterways and collect submerged garbage. 

"It is important to remember that the health of our rivers directly impacts the health of our communities. We encourage the LGUs to use these backhoes-on-barge not only for the cleanup and dredging of the waterways and coastal areas of the Manila Bay region but also to help avert floods that threaten lives and properties in many vulnerable communities as a result of climate change," said Loyzaga.

"LGUs play a pivotal role in the success of the Manila Bay rehabilitation initiatives. I commend the dedication of our local leaders who have been our partners in implementing innovative solid waste management programs in their areas of jurisdiction such as the installation of trash traps and cleanup of rivers and esteros," she added.

SC-mandated 

The Manila Bay rehabilitation was mandated by the Supreme Court (SC) in a Continuing Mandamus Order dated December 18, 2008, and required DENR, DPWH among other state agencies, LGUs and two water concessionaires to clean up and rehabilitate the Bay as well as restore and maintain its waters to a safe level.

The SC order paved the way for the creation of the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Task Force in 2019 by virtue of Administrative Order No. 16, with the DENR Secretary as chairperson and department heads of the Interior and Local Government and of Tourism as vice chairpersons. 

The DENR-led Task Force has 13 members from various national government agencies and from water concessionaires — Manila Water Company, Inc. and Maynilad Water Services, Inc.

"The task force has since been taking remedial measures to bring Manila Bay back to life," Loyzaga said.

“These measures include engineering and technological assistance to improve the water quality of esteros and waterways that empty to the bay, the rehabilitation of old sewer lines in the National Capital Region, and the relocation of informal settler families residing in the vicinity of Manila Bay,” she added.

Tons of solid wastes

Since 2019, more than 1.1 million cubic meters of solid wastes and silt have been dredged in the river systems, esteros, and coastal areas in the National Capital area of the Bay region.

Last year, the Manila Bay rehabilitation project got a major boost with the partnership between the DENR and San Miguel Corporation  to clean up the Tullahan-Tinajeros river system in the north of Manila and Malabon, through DENR's Adopt-a-River program.

“Now with 551 waterbodies adopted and around 1,100 donor-partners nationwide through the Adopt-a-River program since its creation in 2010, we’ve seen how hard our donor partners, LGUs, and other government agencies worked hand-in-hand not just to sanitize Manila Bay alone, but all the other estero communities in the country,” said Loyzaga.

The DENR also turned over four backhoes-on-barge to the cities of Paranaque, Las Piñas, and Bacoor last year to clean their river systems and tributaries.

Loyzaga called for more vigorous partnerships with other LGUs in developing and employing science-informed solutions for cleaning up waterways and coastal areas, and in building resilience against the multiple risks arising from climate change and other threats