Battle for Manila Bay continues

MANILA, Philippines — The campaign to clean up and restore the marine ecosystem of Manila Bay was echoed in a program in Tondo yesterday amid the backdrop of President Duterte’s vocal stance against reclaiming 100 square kilometers of the bay.

Sen. Cynthia Villar and Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu led the program at Baseco Compound in Tondo for the second “Battle for Manila Bay” – a pro-environment campaign launched last year.

Villar lauded the Manila city government for its agreement with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and Maynilad to enhance the “Kubeta Ko” project, which is aimed at building over 400 toilets for bay area residents at Parola Compound.

This project, along with a joint MWSS and Maynilad investment in a sewerage treatment plant, is expected to reduce pollution in the bay.

Since last year, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has removed over 2,000 truckloads of trash, mud and slime from the bay.

MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago said that despite these efforts, restoring the old beauty of Manila Bay is unlikely unless throwing garbage into the bay is totally stopped.

Meanwhile, Manila mayor-turned-Butil party-list Rep. Lito Atienza expressed full support for the President’s stance against reclaiming Manila Bay, saying only the “oligarchs” would benefit from it.

“We should be revitalizing Manila Bay’s ecosystems, not flattening them with more reclamation projects,” Atienza  said. – With Ghio Ong, Delon Porcalla