News Monitoring -01 25 2020
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01-25-20 DATE DAY Sairmeatati._ rsTIENSTS Strategic Conmumicalion and inilialive Service SiumEtar Vt. I rn.:r .41A11‘1111111 •A p1111 04k 16 10111, „„,,„,sirmalssa•Jrir I in I -PAM' i IMOSIPPOW". s I , l'AiLf I/ '0 - 25 -,2,P Manila Bay's coliform levels drop DENR By RHODINA VILLANUEVA The coliform level at the "Battle for Manila Bay" on Rajah Soliman/ Remedios Jan. 26, 2019 to fulfill an order The levels of fecal coliform bacteria in the major drainage outfall across Aris- issued by the Supreme Court outfalls draining into Manila Bay have "drastically de- tocrat restaurant dropped to in 2008. creased" a year after the government started a rehabilita- 11 million mpn/ 100 ml from President Duterte has al- located P42.95 billion for the tion drive, the Department of Environment and Natural 35 million mpri/100 ml. At the Manila Yacht Club implementation of the Ma- Resources (DENR) reported yesterday. outfall, the doliform level nila Bay rehabilitation project "There is reason to cel- Cimatu said the most re- was reported to be 54 million within three years and at least ebrate because a year after cent data from the DENR's mpn/100 ml from a high of 110 13 government agencies are we launched the 'Battle for Environmental Management millipn mpn. working together to carry out Manila Bay,' we have recorded Bureau (EMB) showed that the Despite these improve- .e mission. improvements in the water coliform levels have "drasti- ments, Cimatu said more The DENR is set to inau- quality from major drainage cally decreased." needs to be done to bring the gurate a sewage interceptor outfalls," said DENR Secretary Citing EMB data, Cimatu level down to 100 mpn/100 nil zu id treatment plant located in Roy Cimatu, who chairs the said the fecal coliform count to make the waters of the bay front of the Manila Yacht Club Manila Bay Task Force. at the Padre Faura outfall is clean enough for swimming. tomorrow. The facility, which Before the rehabilitation down to 920,000 most prob- Last year, over 10,000 vol- is capable of treating 500,000 kicked off on Jan. 26 last year, able number per 100 milliliters unteers joined a cleanup ac- liters of wastewater per day, the DENR recorded extremely from its pre-rehabilitation re- tivity along Roxas Boulevard will ensure that no untreated high fecal coliform levels from cord of 7.21 million mpn/ 100 in Manila and other areas in wastewater from the drainage major Manila Bay outfalls. ml. the bay region to kick off the outfalls flows into the bay. MAUI; I IT :2-- Cnii-txfoikuT41' '11-411,065A1 Co/HAWN:on ioN rum I 1-1 I --; I-1 I — I loroArtvEN • cKitioim ....••••••••• (10 Sit/RI SHIRT ;YETtVICE TILE NATION'S liCA DINO INICWSP A PER 0 1-25 - 20 Manila Bay's water quality improving a year after rehab By ALEXANDRIA DENNISE SAN JUAN Despite these improvements, however, Cimatu pointed out that more needs fo be The Department of Environment and done to further improve Manila Bay's water Natural Resources (DENR) said water quality quality as its standard fecal coliform level is of major outfalls directly draining to Manila 100 mpn/Looml based on its classification as Bay significantly improved, a year after the "Class SB" coastal and marine water. previously polluted watershed started to be President Duterte has allocated r42.95 rehabilitated. billion for the Manila Bay rehabilitation Citing latest data from the Department's project for three years to be implemented by Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), at least 13 government agencies. DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said coliform The government targets the source of levels in the Manila Bay have "drastically water pollution in an effort to rehabilitate, decreased" compared to the extremely high restore and maintain the historic bay to a fecal coliform amount recorded prior to the level fit for swimming, as mandated in the rehabilitation program which began January mandamus issued by the Supreme Court in 26 last year. 2008. According to Cimatu, the EMB findings To mark the Battle for Manila Bay's first showed a lower fecal coliform count at the year on Sunday, the DENR has lined up sev- Padre Faura outfall which is now at 920,000 eral activities such as the inauguration of most probable number per too milliliters the sewage interceptor and treatment plant (mpn/tooml) from its pre-rehab record of located in front of the Manila Yacht Club. 7.21 million mpn/toorni. The DENR said that this facility is capable While at the Raja Soliman/Remedios of treating 5 oo,000 liters of wastewater per drainage outfall across Aristocrat Restau- day to ensure that no untreated wastewater rant, coliform level went down to it million from the drainage outfalls flows into the mpn/tooml from the 35 million mpn/moml bay. recorded before the rehabilitation began. A cleanup activity will also take place at The conform level at the Manila Yacht Club the Baseco Beach, followed by the signing of outfall also plunged to no million mpnnooml the Pledge of Support from the private sec- from a high 54 million mpn/100m1 prior to tor to the DENR's War on Waste to be led by the bay's rehab program. members of the Philippine Alliance for Recy- "There is a reason to celebrate now be- cling and Materials Sustainability (PARMS). cause a year after we launched the 'Battle for The DENR will also launch the Solid Waste Manila Bay,' we have recorded significant Management Advocacy Program which aims improvements in the water quality from ma- to increase public awareness on waste seg- jor drainage outfall," Cimatu, who also chairs regation, reducing garbage and raising cash the Manila Bay Task Force, said. from trash. STRATILOIC I= I I F-1 C71 A r 1 BANIINI ECITORIM CArnOON . COMMUNICATION iv SWINT SIOn gs#,M0/1.1 iNITIATIVES Ail PI wam PAGr 111W1 111011.11111S SERVICE in Ina net { NO11•1101111.1r I. *nevi, ervr.., ?roily wwwww 0 1 - 2 5 - 2 0 I' ATE Manila Bay water quality improving The Department of Environment and agency or instrumentality of the government or SB" coastal and marine water. gaturali Resources (DENR) reported significant officer thereof to perform an act or series of acts Meanwhile, Bacoor City in Cavite received a improvements in the water quality of major decreed by final judgment which shall remain gold award from the Department of the Interior outfalls directly draining into Manila Bay a year effective until judgment is fully satisfied. and Local Government in recognition of its after the pollution-challenged water body started Before the Manila Bay rehabilitation kicked significant accomplishments in compliance with undergoing rehabilitation. off on 26 January last year, the DENR recorded President Rodrigo Duterte's directive to rehabilitate "There is reason to celebrate because a year extremely high fecal coliform levels from major Manila Bay. after we launched the 'Battle for Manila Bay; we Manila Bay ouffalls. Bacoor Mayor Lan! Mercado-Revilla noted the have recorded significant improvements in the But now, Cimatu said the most recent data from failure of previous efforts to clean up the Manila water quality from major drainage 'anthills," DENR the DENR's Environmental Management Bureau Bay despite around P50 billion being spent for Secretary Roy Cimatu, who chairs the Manila Bay (EMB) showed that the coliform levels have been past projects. Task Force, declared. "drastically decreased." "We think that reclamation will be the best This, as Supreme Court Chief Justice Citing EMB data, Cimatu said the fecal coliform long-term solution particularly in the Cavitex Diosdado Peralta urged the 13 government count at the Padre Faura outfall is now down to area," Revilla said. agencies tasked with the rehabilitation of the 920,000 most probable number per 100 milliliter Mr. Duterte's order for the rehabilitation of Manila May to "take a coordinated stance" amid (mpn/100m1) from its pre-rehab record of 7.21 Manila Bay, as well as the National Economic the extreme necessity for all concerned executive million mpn/100nil. Development Authority's "Manila Bay Sustainable departments and agencies to immediately take Development Master Plan," identified major action. We have recorded significant actions necessary for the success of the Manila Speaking at the 'Battle for Manila Bay: Second improvements in the water quality Bay cleanup drive. Manila Bay Task Force Principals' Meeting and from major drainage ontfalls. Last year, over 10,000 volunteers joined a Conference" held on 23 January at The Manila massive cleanup activity along Roxas Boulevard Diamond Hotel, Peralta mentioned the case of From 35 million mpn/100m1 recorded before in Manila and other areas in the bay region as the Metropolitan Manila Development Anthority the rehabilitation began, Cimatu said the conform a kickoff to the rehabilitation project dubbed as vs Concerned Residents of Manila Bay, wherein level at the Raja Soliman/Remedios drainage "Battle for Manila Bay," which enjoys the full the Court introduced into jurisprudence the legal outfall across Aristocrat Restaurant went down backing of the Duterte administration. concept of "continuing mandamus," which has to 11 million mpn/100m1. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has allocated become 'the cornerstone of most environmental Despite these improvements, however, Cirnatu P42.95 billion for the implementation of the Manila cases in the Philippines." said more need to be done especially since the Bay rehabilitation project within three years, and at "Continuing mandamus" is a writ issued by standard fecal coliform level in Manila Bay is 100 least 13 government agencies are working together a court in an environmental case directing any mpn/100m1 based on its classification as 'Class to carry out the mission.