HOTSPOT 25 MARCH 2019

Daily Tribune
H
SPOT
MANILA BAY SPECIAL EDITION
25 March 2019
Issue 6
'NOT A LOST CAUSE'
Most important mission
AT A GLANCE
Best harbor in the south
EARTH TO ESTERO
Volunteerism at its best
'KAYA PALA'
Power of political will

Daily Tribune
2 25 MARCH 2019 MANILA BAY
SPECIAL EDITION
EDITORIAL
H
WHAT’S INSIDE
SPOT
Kaya at puwede pala
It was the first social media “challenge” that I accepted. On the morning of 27 January
and with my family in tow, I drove to Roxas Boulevard to participate in what would be
the most sustained and game-changing event, the rehabilitation of Manila Bay.
Dubbed the “Battle for Manila Bay,” I wanted
my children to join the clean-up drive to educate
them about the significance of preserving and
protecting nature and the environment to secure
their future. It also helps that my children are
environmentally aware.
Never did I imagine this initiative of the
Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) under Secretary Roy A. Cimatu
to bring back the old glory of the world-famous bay
would spawn into a much larger effort and spark
national interest to clean up not the metro’s many
waterways. The initiative also served as a wakeup
call – that it’s time to start caring about the
environment.
Immediately after the launch in Manila,
simultaneous clean-up activities were held at
the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and
Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA) and the Marine Tree
Park in Navotas in the National Capital Region.
In Region 3, volunteers in the towns of
Obando, Bulacan, Mariveles, Bataan, Guagua,
Pampanga also joined the rehabilitation initiative,
while a similar activity was held at Talaba Dos in
Bacoor, Cavite.
Acting in unison, government agencies like
the Departments of Tourism, Interior and Local
Government, Social Welfare and Development,
Trade and Industry, National Defense and Science
and Technology joined the campaign.
The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission,
Housing and Urban Development Coordinating
Council, National Housing Authority, Presidential
Commission for the Urban Poor, Manila Water
Company Inc., Maynilad Water Services Inc.,
various local government units, non-government
organizations and other stakeholders also threw in
their support.
I drove by Roxas Boulevard to see
the impact of the clean-up drive
on the people of Metro Manila.
What I saw almost made me cry
Not surprisingly, a week after the launch, my
daughter borrowed my car because her classmates
from a university in Caloocan wanted to see the
transformation of Manila Bay from what they read
and saw from social media, news reports and other
sources.
Intrigued by the renewed interest in Manila
Bay, I drove by Roxas Boulevard to see the impact
of the clean-up drive to the people of Metro Manila.
What I saw almost made me cry.
Hundreds of people lining along the seawall
fronting the Aristocrat Restaurant in Remedios all
the way to the U.S. Embassy. There were even beach
tents as people enjoyed the clean beach. Yes, there
is now a beach there! There were students, police,
workers and local and foreign tourists, enjoying
the sweet smell of the sea and the beauty of Manila
Bay’s sunset – minus the usual putrid smell from
human feces and garbage.
So, this is political will.
For decades, past administrations have made
similar actions to rid Manila Bay of pollution,
but bringing it back to its pristine condition had
been very slow. It took the will of the Duterte
administration to bring something concrete and
sustainable.
Kapag ginusto, kaya at puwede pala.
3 'Not a lost cause'
Saving Manila Bay is the Filipinos'
fight
5 Environment "elite special forces"
Barangay leaders play key role
6 Manila Bay rehabilitation:
A timeline
What inspires the initiative
8 Earth to estero
Corporations "clean up their acts"
10 Beyond sunsets, viewing the future
Reflection on what is and could be
STAFF
Editors
Dinah Ventura
Jojo Silvestre
Sub-Editor
joseph Cortes
Project Director
Komfie Manalo
Writers
Gene Beatrice A. Micaller
AJ Bajo
Marketing and Advertising
Ghie Datoy
Graphic Artist
Maritess Jamin
Cover Art
Remel "Ismit" Mendez
Never did I imagine this initiative of
Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu to bring
back the old glory of the world-famous bay
would spawn a much larger effort
Komfie Manalo
Daily Tribune
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3450 Concept Building, Florida Street,
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Daily Tribune
MANILA BAY
H SPOT 25 MARCH 2019 3
SPECIAL EDITION
'Not a lost cause'
We are not only
cleaning up the bay.
We are saving something
worth saving because
if we allow it to die,
more people might
perish
’CLEANING up is part of internal cleansing.’
economic development.
Indeed, the bay with its natural
harbor hosts the Port of Manila and
the Manila International Container
Port which brings in 54 percent to the
nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).
“This is by far my most important
mission,” he said, stressing it is a major
source of fresh seafood for Metro
Manila and nearby provinces.
However, a dirty Manila Bay is a
threat to food security.
By Komfie Manalo
On 27 January this year, more
than 10,000 Filipinos
marched not to the beat of
war drums but to a strong
resolve to rehabilitate
Manila’s most beloved bay. The aim? To
bring it back to its former glory in what
will be known as the Sixth Battle for
Manila Bay.
Starting with a solidarity walk and
armed only with shovels, pitchforks,
garbage bags and even their bare
hands, the volunteers coming
from both the private and public
sectors scoured the stretch of Roxas
Boulevard from the US Embassy to the
Philippine Navy headquarters. They
had come for a noble cause: to pick
up debris that littered the bay, even as
planners from the government have
devised a strategy to permanently
clean Manila Bay and make its waters
safe again.
“Manila Bay is not a lost cause,”
Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu
said. “With the commitment and
determination of every individual to
This is a battle that will
be won not with force or
arms but with the firm
resolve to bring Manila
Bay back to life
contribute to the rehabilitation, there is
no doubt we will win this battle.”
With the battlecry “Clean Manila
Bay,” Cimatu said it is the moral
responsibility of every Filipino to
treasure Manila Bay as a natural
resource and historically significant
destination by working for its
restoration.
Historical clashes
The first Battle for Manila Bay
occurred in 1571 between Rajah
Sulayman and the Spanish colonizers.
The second was in 1647 between the
Dutch and Spanish navies. In 1762,
the third battle erupted when a British
armada temporarily gained control of
Manila from the Spaniards. In 1898,
the fourth one ended the Spanish-
American War with a mock battle, a
moro-moro between American forces led
by Admiral George Dewey and Spanish
forces led by Rear Admiral Patricio
Montojo.
The orchestrated skirmish saw the
transfer of control of the Philippines
from the Spaniards to the Americans
after the latter paid $20 million to
Spain.
The fifth major battle in Manila Bay
occurred in 1945 when the Americans
launched an offensive to liberate the
Philippines from its Japanese occupiers.
Over 100,000 of Manila’s sons and
daughters lost their lives during the
month-long battle, with the city losing
most of its architectural and cultural
heritage dating back to the Spanish
period.
Latest battle
However, the Environment Chief
considers the latest battle as the
toughest of them all because it involves
the revitalization of the Philippines as a
nation.
“Cleaning up Manila Bay is part
of our internal cleansing. In cleaning
Manila Bay, we are also embarking on
a culture change – doing away with
the bad habit of throwing garbage and
degrading our environment,” Cimatu
said.
“Manila Bay had been a treasure
for many generations past. Let us keep
it a treasure for ourselves and for those
who will come after us,” he added,
stressing how the bay is an integral part
of Filipino culture, as well as a major
contributor to the country’s social and
Not impossible
For his part, DENR Undersecretary
Benny D. Antiporda pointed out the lack
of discipline among Filipinos as the
single biggest obstacle to the success of
the rehabilitation.
“We are looking at one major
stumbling block – it is the lack of
discipline among our countrymen,”
Antiporda said. “What we need is
discipline.”
He added: “We are not only cleaning
up the bay. We are saving something
worth saving because if we allow it to
die, more people might perish.”
In 2008, the Supreme Court issued
a mandamus directing the DENR and
12 other government agencies to clean
up, rehabilitate and preserve Manila Bay
THOUSANDS flocked to the Quirino Grandstand with one goal. Manila Bay is not a lost cause.
Turn to page 4

Daily Tribune
4 25 MARCH 2019 MANILA BAY
SPECIAL EDITION
H
SPOT
From Page 3
Not a lost...
and to restore and maintain its water
quality to a level fit for swimming and
other contact recreation.
Antiporda lamented how, in the
last decade, the efforts of concerned
agencies have not been visible or felt at
all. He attributed previous unsuccessful
efforts to “weak coordination and
collaboration among agencies.”
This time, however, he said the
DENR and other government agencies
have the full backing of President
Rodrigo Duterte, allowing them to
effectively enforce the law and ensure
compliance of local government
units with their mandate towards
environmental protection.
He added the DENR is coming up
with interventions that would hasten
the improvement of Manila Bay’s water
quality. At the same time, he allayed fears
that the rehabilitation would result in
the loss of jobs and livelihood within the
Manila Bay area.
Boracay redux
Cimatu agreed with Antiporda
and cited the efforts of the DENR
to rehabilitate Boracay which many
naysayers doubted but the agency proved
them wrong.
“We can restore back the once
clean and beautiful bay if we all believe
that we can do it. We are not alone.
We have the mandamus agencies and
The DENR and other government
agencies have the full backing
of President Rodrigo Duterte,
allowing them to effectively
enforce the law
and ensure compliance
of local government units
different stakeholders on our side – the
national and local government agencies,
the government and non-government
institutions and civil society,” he added.
After the launch, the DENR issued
a 10-point “Pledge to the Environment.”
The pledge includes nurturing
everything that God had created as well
as protecting the county which is the
cradle to our future.
“I pledge that I will protect humanity
by preserving the environment,” the
document says. “I pledge to keep my
community clean as its responsible
member.”
Moreover, it invokes a promise
to encourage one’s family, relatives,
friends and neighbors to prioritize the
protection of nature.
MORE than 10,000 volunteers answered the call.
YOUTH representative Angel Delfin leads government officials and thousands of participants in reciting the Sampung Panunumpa para sa Kalikasan (Pledge to the Environment).

Daily Tribune
MANILA BAY
H SPOT 25 MARCH 2019 5
SPECIAL EDITION
Environment ‘elite special forces’
BASECO residents joined forces in cleaning up Baseco Beach, one of the nine critical rivers that need to be cleaned as part of the restoration effort.
PHOTO BY BOB DUNGO, JR.
By Komfie Manalo
In the campaign to save Manila Bay, barangay leaders
are the environment’s “elite special forces” or even “the
most powerful public officials in the country” in enforcing
the law and protecting the community
Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said as much
during a dialogue with barangay leaders. He said barangay
officials, particularly in the areas around Manila Bay, play a
crucial role in bringing the heavily polluted bay back to its
former glory.
“The barangay leaders and members who are here
today could be considered special forces in this endeavor,”
the former military chief quipped.
Cimatu added the government is relying on these local
leaders whose support and cooperation are vital in ensuring
the success of the rehabilitation dubbed the
“Battle for Manila Bay,” given their proximity
to nine critical rivers that need to be
cleaned as part of the restoration
effort.
“As much as you are the ones
nearest to the rivers or the battle
areas, you are also the ones
closest to the people who are
possible enemies or violators,”
the Environment chief said.
“Influence them to stop their
bad practices of dumping garbage
anywhere and ask them to join you as
volunteers in your cleaning campaign
drive.”
As much as you are the ones nearest
to the rivers or the battle areas,
you are also the ones closest to the people
who are possible enemies or violators.
He added: “Your mission is special. Kaya isa kayo sa
mga elite forces ng (You are the elite forces of the) Manila
Bay rehabilitation. Consider yourselves as the first line of
defense.”
The dialogue aimed to remind the barangay executives
of their role in the rehabilitation effort, as well as their
responsibility in cleaning up rivers that empty into Manila
Bay.
‘Call of nature’
Sherwin S. Rigor, DENR undersecretary for attached
agencies and supervising undersecretary for Manila
Bay Coordinating Office (MBCO), thanked the village
chief executives for answering the call since the Duterte
administration launched the Manila Bay rehabilitation.
He said the barangay units as well as their constituents
have accepted the challenge and are one with the
government in the massive undertaking of clearing
the waterways around Metro Manila, including
rivers, esteros, creeks and canals that
ultimately dump water into the bay.
“With your support, we will make the
water of Manila Bay safe,” Rigor told the
attendees in the dialogue. He added public
support is the key to the success of the
rehabilitation program.
Pollution hotspot
Cimatu said barangay leaders should be
“vigilant” for issues concerning the rivers in
their areas of jurisdiction.
He noted, for example, that Manila Bay has
become a “pollution hotspot” in southern part of East
Asia, making it a “potential health hazard to our people, a
threat to the nation’s food security and a tremendous impact
to the country’s biodiversity.”
Despite this, Cimatu believes the Manila Bay
rehabilitation is not an impossible mission if everyone
will take part in the undertaking. “We can restore the once
clean and beautiful bay if we all believe that we can do it,” he
encouraged.
“We are not alone. We have the mandamus agencies
and different stakeholders on our side: the national and
local government agencies, the government and nongovernment
institutions, and the civil society,” he added.
Last 27 January, the DENR launched the three-phase
“Battle for Manila Bay” project where over 10,000 people
joined a massive clean-up activity on Roxas Boulevard in
Manila and other parts of the Manila Bay region.
More than a month since the launch, the DENR
has already issued a total of 263 notices of violation and
119 cease and desist orders to establishments in Metro
Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon that violated the
Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 and other pertinent
environmental laws.
Act or be gone
In the same dialogue, Department of Interior and
Local Government (DILG) Undersecretaries Epimaco V.
Densing III and Martin B. Diño warned barangay chief
executives they would face administrative charges or
even termination from office if they fail to clean up their
localities and participate in the efforts to do the same to
waterways.
In a stern warning, Densing and Diño told local leaders
they need to comply with the directive of Interior and Local
Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año to conduct a weekly
clean-up of waterways in their jurisdictions.
“If you do not want to do your job then you should quit
[as barangay chairmen],” Densing said as he reiterated the
call for public servants to comply with their mandate of
protecting the environment.
“I urge you to use your funds to enforce the law,” said
Diño, who served as barangay chairman for more than 10
years before his appointment to national position.
He added: “Secretary Año had issued show cause
orders to at least 1,000 barangay officials in Luzon to
compel them to submit a report on their clean-up of esteros,
creeks, rivers and other waterways in their localities.
“The majority of garbage is coming from domestic
sources. Those are your constituents and you should
implement environmental laws. Remember, Republic Act
9003 makes it a criminal act to litter or throw garbage
improperly. Violators of this law are criminals,” he said.

Daily Tribune
6 MANILA BAY
25 MARCH 2019
SPECIAL EDITION
H
SPOT
Daily Tribune
Daily Tribune
MANILA BAY
MANILA BAY
H SPOT 25
HMARCH SPOT
2019 7
SPECIAL EDITION
SPECIAL EDITION
CHILDREN residing in the bay area
flock to Manila Bay for a swim.
By Gene Beatrice A. Micaller
On 16 December 2018, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), using the
same strategy it implemented in the renewal of Boracay Island, decided to begin the rehabilitation
of one of the metro’s most popular tourist spots – the Manila Bay.
Known for its eye-catching golden sunset, Manila Bay had become notorious for its polluted waters as
a result of improper and indiscriminate dumping of toxic waste from factories and shipping operations,
garbage and sewage.
“We are preparing for an all-out strategy to bring the coliform concentration in Manila Bay to a safe
level, so that millions of people who reside in the bay region and neighboring areas will enjoy its waters
and marine resources without fear of getting sick,” said Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu of that
first meeting.
Reports from the agency showed the fecal coliform level in the bay was at 330 million MPN/100ml,
exceeding the maximum safe level of 100 MPN/100ml.
“I am calling on all LGU (local government units) to step up their efforts in cleaning up the bay,
because it is their own constituents who will benefit (from a rehabilitated Manila Bay),” Cimatu stressed.
To address this long-overdue problem, the DENR decided that among the first steps it should
implement is to control the amount of pollutants and waste being discharged into the bay’s waters.
On 12 January, the agency started the strict enforcement of Republic Act 9275 or the Philippine
Clean Water Act of 2004, which focuses on “addressing water quality issues and other environmental
problems in the historic bay.”
On the same day, Cimatu inspected the Estero de San Antonio de Abad in Malate, Manila where
wastewater is being unloaded. This was done to determine the source of untreated wastewater being
discharged into Manila Bay.
As a result, a number of establishments were given notice to set up their own sewage treatment
plant (STP) to reduce contamination of seawater.
“We are giving them three months to put up their own STP,” he added.
The Environment Chief outlined a three-phased Manila Bay rehabilitation program. Phase 1
includes the clean-up and improvement of the bay’s water quality. Rehabilitation comes in Phase 2,
while the last phase would cover its protection and making it sustainable.
On 15 January, he called on all the business owners to work hand-in-hand with the agency
to regain the once picturesque bay and become part of its history. “I wish you join us in making
history in our country,” he said.
Cimatu, along with the Interior and Tourism Secretaries, led the meeting that tackled the
mission to bring back Manila Bay to its old form.
“This mission is not impossible. This mission calls for dedication and hard work from all
those who will help us in this operation,” he expressed.
The agency kicked-off the effort by identifying the establishments that did not conform to
the country’s environmental laws.
“I assure you that it will happen,” he explained. “We will not only clean it, but we will also be
able to do something better for our countrymen and the next generation.”
Two days after calling the support of stakeholders, Cimatu said that in order to fulfill the
vision of a spick-and-span Manila Bay, they were joining forces with anyone who also has the
same vision as theirs – to sanitize all bodies of water that lead to the bay.
“We need to find out where the outfalls come from individually, because in just one estero
we can find lots of outfalls,” he pointed out.
Likewise, he stated the facilities of concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water, which
supply water to both residential and commercial establishments in Metro Manila, were also
going to be inspected.
On 19 January, Cimatu assured that bringing Manila Bay to its old glory was not totally
“mission impossible,” so long as every concerned citizen will partake in the project.
DENR Undersecretary Benny D. Antiporda identified the biggest hurdle to the project
to be the lack of discipline among Filipinos.
“What we really need is discipline,” he said.
He explained they “are not only cleaning up the bay. We are saving something that is
already on the verge of dying because, if we don’t, more and more people will die.”
In 2008, the Supreme Court issued a mandamus mandating the DENR and 12 other
government agencies to rehabilitate and preserve the Manila Bay. Unfortunately, for the
past 10 years, the efforts of the mandamus agencies were not felt by the nation.
This mission is not impossible. This mission
calls for dedication and hard work from all
those who will help us in this operation
Antiporda said it is different this time around.
With the comprehensive support of President Rodrigo
R. Duterte, the agency is confident that it can effectively lay out
everything for the rehabilitation of Manila Bay.
He admitted that, as work progresses, it is expected that more
and more livelihoods and jobs within the bay zone will be affected.
After declaring not to be “mission impossible,” Cimatu
appealed for government establishments to lead by example. He
said government offices should be at the forefront of complying
with environmental laws, particularly the Clean Water Act of 2004
and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
“Manila Bay is in critical condition and proper wastewater
discharge and solid waste disposal play key roles to reviving it,” he
said.
Establishments that will be caught overlooking the said
environmental laws may face termination of their licenses to
operate and pay a fine of as much as P200,000 a day.
“We will issue notices of violation to non-compliant
establishments, or we will shut them down,” he stressed. “Until they
comply, they cannot operate.”
Cimatu also cited the need to educate residents, especially
informal settlers, to segregate their wastes before discharging them
into bodies of water.
“With education, we can clean up Manila Bay. We can sustain
it, and we can preserve the revived Manila Bay,” he said.
The more difficult part is the relocation of
over 220,000 households. But the most
difficult is to maintain and sustain its clean
condition for the next generation
On 25 January, DENR said the real “Battle for Manila Bay”
would be starting. The rehabilitation agenda would see the combined
forces of more than 5,000 participants, with most coming from the
DENR and other government agencies.
“This is a battle that will be won not with force or arms, but with
the firm resolve to bring Manila Bay back to life,” he said.
By 27 January, the DENR officially declared the onset of the
Manila Bay rehabilitation program. On that same day, more than
10,000 participants came together at the Solidarity Walk that
stretches from the Quirino Grandstand to Baywalk, which also
happened to be the staging area of the launch.
“With the commitment and determination of every Filipino
to do his share in this rehabilitation effort, we have already won the
battle for Manila Bay,” Cimatu declared.
Weeks after the launch, on 6 February, he stressed that to
completely refurbish Manila Bay and preserve it for the long-term,
the people need to observe some form of cultural change.
“If they ask me what is the most difficult part in rehabilitating
Manila Bay, I would say it is to change our people’s behavior and
attitude,” he expressed.
He shared that around 14 percent of the overall allocated P42
billion budget for the program will be devoted to the clean-up activities
alone. This amount is roughly equivalent to P6 billion. The remainder
will be spent on the relocation of informal settlers and the provision of
support systems, like improving access to jobs and livelihoods.
“The more difficult part is the relocation of over 220,000
households. But the most difficult is to maintain and sustain its clean
condition for the next generation,” he said.
Furthermore, with the health of Filipinos in mind, the DENR
said the reduction of coliform levels in the bay is of top priority.
“Bathing in Manila
With the commitment and determination
of every Filipino to do his share in this
rehabilitation effort, we have already won
the battle for Manila Bay
Bay can expose people to high levels of fecal coliform bacteria,
which could increase their chances of developing illnesses. The
government has not yet given the all-clear signal for swimming,” he
stated.
The agency’s first few steps included the cleaning of the Baseco
Compound in Tondo, Manila. On 11 February, the DENR collected
550 sacks of garbage from the said location.
This cleanup activity was part of the project of Task Force
DENR Metro Manila (TF-DEMM), which is directly tasked to
oversee the Manila Bay rehab.
The next day, the agency urged municipality mayors to support
them in the rehab program via the cleanup of rivers and esteros in
areas that directly discharge waste into Manila Bay.
"We have to clean all 47 esteros and all the rivers that contribute
to the pollution of Manila Bay. None will be spared. We will go
through them one by one,” Cimatu said during the Local Executives’
Forum on the Manila Bay Cleanup, Rehabilitation and Preservation
Program.
Additionally, the DENR urged local government units to locate
where the water pollution is
coming from in their areas
and take measures to
resolve it.
“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,”
he stressed.
He added, “It’s
the mayors and
the LGU who have
the main authority over the signing of the contract with garbage
collection contractors. I hope that after signing the contracts,
the LGU check that contractors follow what is stipulated in the
contract.”
He also cited that of 220,000 informal settlers residing along
esteros leading to Manila Bay, only 10,000 will be relocated in a year.
On 20 February, 20 establishments in the cities of Pasay and
Manila were found to be improperly disposing of their wastewater
by the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA). These included
the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Overseas Workers
Welfare Administration buildings, to name a few.
Overall, 63 establishments were cited by the LLDA with
violations ever since the start of the Manila Bay rehabilitation
scheme on 27 January. It comprised 16 cease and desist orders, 12
ex-parte orders and 35 notices of violations.
On 24 February, Cimatu conceived an inter-agency Manila
Bay Task Force to aid the agency in systemizing and hastening the
efforts of the government to refurbish polluted bodies of water.
This task force complied with Executive Order 16 signed
by the President that would fortify “complete rehabilitation,
restoration and conservation of the Manila Bay.”
“This order will fast-track all the work we are doing, delineate
responsibilities and coordinate activities of all government agencies
involved in the rehabilitation efforts,” he explained.
Other agencies and offices that are part of the task force are
the chiefs of the Departments of Public Works and Highways and
Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council,
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Pasig River Rehabilitation
Commission, Local Water Utilities Administration, Manila Waterworks
and Sewerage System, Philippine National Police Maritime Group,
Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Ports Authority. Manila Water
and Maynilad were also made part of the task force.
On 27 February, during the celebration of World Wildlife
Day 2019, Cimatu described this year’s theme to be timely and
relevant: “Life Below Water: For People and Planet.”
“This year’s celebration reminds us of the importance
of marine life as one of the natural resources that we need to
sustain, thus giving us more reasons to continue the ongoing
efforts to save Manila Bay and other bodies of water in the
Philippines,” he said.
A DREDGING machine is used to dig waste
under Manila Bay.
Manila Bay rehabilitation: A timeline

Daily Tribune
8 25 MARCH 2019 MANILA BAY
SPECIAL EDITION
H
SPOT
By AJ Bajo
Picture this: Microscopic buildings made of plastic all
the familiar brands we consume and discard, rinse
and repeat – standing vertically atop the sea foam,
swishing along the world’s ocean gyres.
Now, a little bit closer: Petite organisms squeezing their way into Styrofoam
restaurants, munching on plastic brunches, whiling time away on chemical
parks.
The mess that we have made has grown so extensive, it might as well have
created its own ecosystem.
To help bring back the esteros (estuaries) to their earthly state, a
collaboration between the estero communities, donor-partners, local government
units, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other
government agencies gave birth to the Adopt-an-Estero/Water Body program.
The DENR Environmental Management Bureau says one of the program’s
objectives is to “clean the esteros of wastes, debris and silt starting 2010 until all
have been cleaned up.”
This primarily engages communities to maintain their waterways and
“enlist their active participation in the actual clean-up, and in implementing and
preparing plans to sustain a clean estero in the future years.”
On the other hand, the DENR defined donors or partners as a “business
establishment, an industry association, a non-government organization or any
other group that volunteers to be a major actor in cleaning the esteros.”
Some of DENR’s big-ticket partners for the program have included SM
Prime Holdings and Petron, and lately San Miguel Corp.
In 2011, Petron Corp. pledged P200 million to aid the rehabilitation of the
Marikina River for five years.
This effort included information and education campaigns, as well as
engagements with local stakeholders to ensure the campaign’s sustainability.
SM Prime likewise paired with the agency for a five-year rehabilitation
program for the 10-kilometer stretch of the San Juan River in 2012.
And just this March, SMC signed a memorandum of agreement to
rehabilitate the Tullahan-Tinajeros River System, funding P1 billion for the
equipment, which will be used for the clean-up of the river, starting with the
stretch at the La Mesa Dam end in Quezon City.
The Tullahan River traverses the cities of Malabon, Caloocan, Valenzuela
and Quezon City, before emptying into glorious Manila Bay, which has since
received renewed attention when thousands flocked here for a massive clean-up
drive – and photo ops, too.
Two years after the establishment in 2010 of the Adopt-an-Estero program,
the DENR reported more than 300 partners who have lent a hand, time and
effort to make the congested esteros great again.
The effort is far from completion, and once the walls between the key
players and the community have been broken down, that’s when change will be
most evident.
The effort is far from completion, and once the walls between
the key players and the community have been broken down,
that’s when change will be most evident.
Earth to estero
BIG corporations answered the challenge and adopted creeks, esteros and waterways.

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SPECIAL EDITION
THE Manila Zoo
administration quickly
cleaned its canal and waterways.
Some of DENR’s big-ticket partners
for the program have included
SM Prime Holdings and Petron,
and lately San Miguel Corporation.
In its 2014 annual accomplishment
report, the DENR said among the challenges
it encountered in the implementation of the
campaign was the low participation of estero
communities, as well as poor solid waste
management.
A program like this paves the way for
corporations and communities to contribute in
the only way they can – but this does not happen
overnight. The rehabilitation of Manila Bay
presents many answers, as well as poses many
questions.
What do we need then? Perhaps, we must
keep an open mind and give up personal agendas.
It is important to move toward one direction
as we heed the call of the environment for
help, lest we find ourselves in more calamitous
situations in the future.
ASIDE from removing garbage and solid debris, the DENR also wants to bring back the water quality to a safe level.

Daily Tribune
10 25 MARCH 2019 MANILA BAY
SPECIAL EDITION
H
SPOT
Beyond sunsets,
viewing the future
A MAJESTIC view of Manila Bay.
By Dinah S. Ventura
Among the most famous bays in the world, Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour
is an example of how a bustling, ultramodern city can successfully thrive
around a natural body of water.
Mangroves and ponds used
to occupy more areas
of the vast harbor.
Over some neglectful decades,
development and pollution
practically destroyed all these.
Ha Long Bay in north Vietnam is also considered
one of the best bays in the world, its 120-kilometer
coastline picturesque with “thousands of islands,
each topped with thick jungle vegetation, forming a
spectacular seascape of limestone pillars,” goes one
description.
What’s striking about these aforementioned
bays is that they are utilized to the full – in Hong
Kong, the harbor is a major tourist destination
and trading port for thousands of international
vessels, while Ha Long Bay remains a main source of
livelihood for Vietnamese fishermen.
Our Manila Bay, while famous for its spectacular
sunsets, is also a very busy port, especially in
Manila’s North and South Harbors. Real estate
developments have sprung up around it resulting
from population boom, and reclamation projects
continue to be considered for the same reasons.
Not many know that Manila Bay covers a much
wider area than the Roxas Boulevard section in
the capital city. It is situated in the western part of
Luzon and is bounded by Cavite and Metro Manila
on the east, Bulacan and Pampanga on the north,
and Bataan on the west and northwest.
That mangroves and ponds used to occupy
more areas of the vast harbor is also not common
knowledge. Over some neglectful decades,
development and pollution practically destroyed
all these. Perhaps the current government’s timely
actions toward its rehabilitation will stave further
destruction and save the bay’s future.
Filipino vibe
While there are countless bays in the world that
draw tourists like bees, our own Manila Bay holds a
unique appeal.
Residents in and around the city may no longer
“see” its striking beauty as they traverse Roxas
Boulevard on a regular basis, but new visitors are
usually awed by the bright, golden cast of the Manila
sunset. They also enjoy the recreation offered by
many establishments around the area, such as the
Mall of Asia complex, where shopping, dining and
entertainment may be had just short walks apart
from each other, as well as the casino complexes and
hotels by the bay.
One Tripadvisor reviewer, on the topic “Ways
to experience Manila Bay,” commented: “Glorious
sunsets to behold along the bay. The downside is
the pollution, but thankfully this is being tackled
now. I attended the inaugural clean-up drive which
included the removal of silt. Interesting things along
the bay include a visit to the Mall of Asia and the

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H SPOT 25 MARCH 2019 11
SPECIAL EDITION
DECADES of neglect
hardened the solid wastes
along the bay that special
dredging equipment are
used by the DPWH.
As the sun slowly sinks in the horizon,
the calm waters start to glimmer in the distance.
It is a slow, peaceful setting that seems
to reflect a very Filipino vibe.
DENR Secretary
Roy Cimatu.
many restaurants, fun fair and live acts opposite the
mall on the bay side.”
The view of Manila Bay is, in fact, a premium
for hotels in the area, where rooftop or seaside deck
bars are also often featured.
As the sun slowly sinks in the horizon, the calm
waters start to glimmer in the distance. It is a slow,
peaceful setting that seems to reflect a very Filipino
vibe. It is like summer come alive even as the roads
teem with vehicles and the sun beats down on our
brow.
Along the bay, the popular seaside promenade
that used to be called Baywalk after then Mayor Lito
Atienza moved to revitalize the city’s public spaces
remains a favorite hangout for couples, families,
friends and the usual joggers and bikers.
When sunset comes, they stop to
stare out into the waters,
perhaps contemplating
their life at the moment
or quietly sending up
a prayer of gratitude for
another day gone by.
May there come a time
when those who now pass by
without a second glance – except
maybe when a certain smell
reaches their noses – will once
again appreciate the full beauty
of the Manila Bay.
ENVIRONMENT warriors patrol
the beach of Manila to encourage
the public to do their share.

Daily Tribune
12 25 MARCH 2019 MANILA BAY
SPECIAL EDITION
H
SPOT
Manila
Bay
at a glance
Manila Bay is considered one of the best harbors in Southeast Asia. Its geographical
location, facing the South China Sea, makes it a perfect natural harbor. It enables
trade and commerce between the Philippines and other countries, thus creating
income opportunities for thousands of Filipinos.
Aside from its contribution to the economy, Manila Bay is famous for its sunset,
which is considered one of the best in the world. It is one of the historic sites in the
country where the famous Spanish-American War via the Battle of Manila Bay took place
in 1898.
The bay is located at the southwest portion of Luzon Island. It has a 190-kilometer
coastline and a drainage area covering 1,994 square kilometers or 199,400 hectares.
The Manila Bay Area covers eight provinces and 178 local government units.
Four of the eight provinces are coastal — Bataan, Bulacan, Cavite and Pampanga, while
four are non-coastal — Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Rizal and Tarlac.
The rehabilitation of Manila Bay or “Battle for Manila Bay” was launched
on 27 January 2019 when around 10,000 people from various government
agencies, private organizations, environmentalists and other stakeholders
gathered at Quirino Grandstand, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan and Cavite to
show unity in bringing back the former glory of the bay.
On 19 February 2019, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte inked Administrative
Order 16 “Expediting the rehabilitation and restoration of the coastal and
marine ecosystem of the Manila Bay and creating the Manila Bay Task Force.”
There are 17 principal river systems draining into Manila Bay:
Angat, Bocaue, Sta. Maria, Marilao, Meycauayan, Obando, Talisay, Guagua and
Pampanga Rivers (Region 3).
Meycauayan-Valenzuela, Pasig, Parañaque and Malabon-Navotas-Tullahan-Tinajeros
Rivers (NCR).
Imus, Ylang-ylang, Rio Grande and Cañas Rivers (Region 4a).
Almost 233,000 informal settler families are residing along the waterways of the Manila
Bay area, directly discharging their wastes into the sea.
Manila Bay has a fecal coliform level of 330 million MPN/100mL.
The government aims to reduce its current fecal coliform level to 100 MPN/100mL to
make it fit for swimming, skin diving and other recreational activities or Class SB.
The major river outfalls in Metro
Manila that drain into Manila Bay:
Bangkulasi Station
Balut Station
Vitas Station
Jones Station (Pasig River)
San Antonio de Abad Station
Macapagal Bridge 1 Station
Macapagal Bridge 2 Station
Macapagal Bridge 3 Station
Coastal Bridge 1 Station
Coastal Bridge 2 Station
Zapote River Drive Station
There are 309 water tributaries (esteros and
creeks) in Metro Manila that drain into Manila
Bay and these cover a total area of 10,850,531.81
square meters.
Three major river systems in Manila Bay:
PAMARISAN River System (Pasig, Marikina,
and San Juan River Systems)
Composition of Task Force Manila Bay
Chair: Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
Vice Chair: Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
Department of Tourism (DOT)
Members: Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
Department of Health (DOH)
Department of Agriculture (DA)
Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC)
Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA)
Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC)
Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA)
Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS)
Philippine National Police (PNP)-Maritime Group
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
Philippine Ports Authority (PPA)
Manila Water Company, Inc. (Manila Water)
MAYNILAD Water Services, Inc. (MAYNILAD).
Manila Bay Rehabilitation Plan has seven key result areas in which the Task Force has to work
on:
KRA 1 - Liquid Management
KRA 2 – Solid Waste Management
KRA 3 – Social Preparation and Relocation
KRA 4 – Habitat and Ecosystems Management
KRA 5 – Rule of Law
KRA 6 – Strategic Communication, Education and Mobilization
KRA 7 – Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan (MBSDMP)