21 SEPTEMBER 2020, MONDAY Headline STRATEGIC September 21, 2020 COMMUNICATION & Editorial Date INITIATIVES Column SERVICE 1 of 2 Opinion Page Feature Article ‘Keep Manila Bay clean’ Published 2 hours ago on September 21, 2020 04:20 AM By TDT The opening of the stretch of white sand beach along Roxas Boulevard this weekend saw the public trooping to Manila Bay for some exercise, such as these friends indulging in a Zumba workout. PHOTOGRAPH BY BOB DUNGO JR. FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE @TRIBUNEPHL_BOB As hundreds of people troop to Roxas Boulevard for a chance to view the Manila Bay’s artificial white sand, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reminded the public to avoid littering in the area. MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago urged Filipinos to keep Manila Bay clean since the government has spent P389 million to rehabilitate the waterway. “Local tourists gather at the present Manila Bay to witness the beauty of the dolomite white sand, but we would like to remind them to avoid littering there,” Pialago said in an interview. “That portion of Manila Bay in front of the US Embassy was opened to the public, so the public can see this rehabilitation project. But it does not mean that picnics are allowed, so as to avoid garbage and trash there,” she added. The MMDA official noted those who would violate protocols would face sanctions, adding that government personnel and environmental marshals are roving in the area. Meanwhile, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Benny Antiporda yesterday said the decision to open Manila Bay’s shoreline to the public was meant to show the true nature or purpose on why they decided to come up with the now controversial beach nourishment project. Antiporda made the remark following the criticism hurled by naysayers over the DENR’s decision to open the Manila Bay beachfront from 19 to 20 September and provide visitors a chance to see the progress of the ongoing project. “We were forced to do this because of their false allegations. We need to show this to the people, and let the people defend this. That’s why we decided that they see for themselves what this project is about even if it is just partially finished,” Antiporda told the Daily Tribune. However, he stressed they are not encouraging the people to go to the area given the COVID-19 situation affecting the country. Likewise, the DENR official shared there is a plan to further expand the beach by another 380 meters, with the dolomite sand covering an area totaling three hectares. Source: https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2020/09/20/thousands-crowd-white-sand-manila-bay- told-to-keep-it-clean/ Headline STRATEGIC September 21, 2020 COMMUNICATION & Editorial Date INITIATIVES Column SERVICE 2 of 2 Opinion Page Feature Article He said the project is expected to be finished by yearend. “We are targetting the end of the year, but I don’t know if we can make it because a lot of hindrance has happened already. That’s why we are considering, we are studying how we can file a case against those who are destroying this project because of the many delays that has happened because of them,” Antiporda said. On the other hand, Pialago said the MMDA has seen a drastic decline in the amount of garbage that is collected from Manila Bay. From 30 truckloads of garbage a day, the MMDA is now collecting just one to two truckloads daily, she said. On Saturday, in line with the International Coastal Cleanup Day, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources opened the controversial “white sand” at the beachfront of Manila Bay to the public, even if the government discourages Filipinos from doing non-essential things outdoors. People were seen taking pictures and holding Zumba sessions without observing the one meter physical distancing protocol. Children and senior citizens — who are prohibited to go outside their homes because they are at high risk to the coronavirus disease — also flocked to the area. Source: https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2020/09/21/keep-manila-bay-clean/ Headline STRATEGIC September 21, 2020 COMMUNICATION & Editorial Date INITIATIVES Column SERVICE 1 of 1 Opinion Page Feature Article Thousands crowd ‘white sand’ Manila Bay, told to keep it clean Published 13 hours ago on September 20, 2020 04:59 PM By TDT As hundreds of people flocked along Roxas Boulevard for a chance to view the Manila Bay’s artificial white sand, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has reminded the public to avoid littering in the area. MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago urged Filipinos to keep Manila Bay clean since the government has spent about P389 million to rehabilitate the waterway. “Local tourists gather at the present at the Manila Bay to witness the beauty of dolomite white sand but we would like to remind them to avoid littering there,” Pialago told DZBB in an interview. “That portion of Manila Bay in front of the US Embassy was opened to the public so they can see this rehabilitation project but it does not mean that picnics are allowed so as to avoid garbage and trash there,” she added. The MMDA official noted that those who would violate protocols would face sanctions, adding that government personnel and environmental marshals are roving in the area. Pialago said the MMDA has seen a drastic decline in garbage collected at the Manila Bay. From 30 truckloads of garbage a day, the MMDA is now collecting one to two trucks daily, she said. On Saturday, in line with the International Coastal Cleanup Day, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources opened the controversial “white sand” at the beachfront of Manila Bay to the public — even if the government discourages Filipinos from doing non-essential things outdoors. People were seen taking pictures, holding Zumba sessions, among others, without observing one-meter physical distancing. Children and senior citizens — who are prohibited to go outside their homes because of their vulnerability to the coronavirus disease — also flocked to the area. The elderly claimed that they are supporters of President Duterte, as some of them are even holding a tarpaulin with an image of the Chief Executive. Source: https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2020/09/20/thousands-crowd-white-sand-manila-bay- told-to-keep-it-clean/ Headline STRATEGIC September 21, 2020 COMMUNICATION & ✓ Editorial Date INITIATIVES Column SERVICE 1 of 2 Opinion Page Feature Article EDITORYAL - Kamay na bakal sa magtatapon ng basura sa Manila Bay (Pang-Masa) - September 21, 2020 - 12:00am PINAGAGANDA ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ang Manila Bay. Ginastusan ng P389 million ang paglalatag ng puting buhangin na nanggaling pa sa Cebu. Kamakalawa, ipinakita na sa publiko ang magandang dalampasigan at marami ang humanga. Hindi na raw nila kailangan pang magtungo sa Boracay para makakita ng puting buhangin. Maraming dumagsa sa dalampasigan at ang iba ay nag-selfie pa. Habang ipinakikita sa mga tao ang magandang dalampasigan, nagsasagawa naman ng clean-up ang Metro Manila Development Authority sa di kalayuan. Pinupulot ang mga basurang inaanod na karamihan ay plastic. Kung hindi pupulutin, tiyak na hahantong sa bagong tambak na puting buhangin ang mga basura. Masisira ang magandang tanawin kapag hindi inalagaan ng pagpulot sa mga inaanod na basura. Ang pinagkagastusan nang malaki para sa beautification ay masasayang lang dahil sa mga basura. Karaniwang supot na plastic, grocery bags, sache ng 3-in-1 coffee, catsup, shampoo, toothpaste, at iba pang basura na hindi nabubulok ang itinapon sa Manila Bay. Maraming probinsiya at siyudad ang nakapaligid sa Manila Bay – Maynila, Cavite, Paranaque, Navotas, Valenzuela, Bataan at iba pa. Posibleng galing sa mga nabanggit na lugar ang mga basura. Tiyak na pinakarami ang nanggaling sa Maynila. Lahat nang basurang itinapon sa mga estero sa Maynila ay tatangayin sa Manila Bay. Karamihan sa mga nagtatapon ng basura ay informal settlers o mga iskuwater, deretso sa estero ang kanilang basura. Ang kawalan ng disiplina ng mamamayan sa pagtatapon ng basura ang nararapat namang pagtuunan ni DENR Sec. Roy Cimatu. Masasayang lamang ang pagpapaganda sa Manila Bay kung walang kontrol ang pagtatapon ng basura. Headline STRATEGIC September 21, 2020 COMMUNICATION & ✓ Editorial Date INITIATIVES Column SERVICE 2 of 2 Opinion Page Feature Article Ang kawalan ng disiplina ng mamamayan sa pagtatapon ng basura ang nararapat namang pagtuunan ni DENR Sec. Roy Cimatu. Masasayang lamang ang pagpapaganda sa Manila Bay kung walang kontrol ang pagtatapon ng basura. Natatandaan namin na noong nakaraang taon nagbabala si Cimatu sa mga walang disiplinang nagtatapon ng basura. Nagsalita siya sa isang forum at sinabi niyang tapos na ang araw ng mga gumagawa ng krimen laban sa Inang Kalikasan. Tutuldukan na raw niya ang pag-abuso sa kalikasan sapagkat mahigpit niyang ipatutupad ang environmental laws at mga ordinansa. Pero makalipas ang kanyang pagbabanta, wala pa ring nakitang pagbabago at lalo pang dumami ang mga nagsasalaula sa kapaligiran. Marami pa rin ang walang disiplina sa pagtatapon ng basura. Kailangan nang gumamit ng ‘‘kamay na bakal’’ sa mga nagtatapon ng basura. Gawin ito ni Cimatu para di masayang ang sinimulan. Source: https://www.philstar.com/pang-masa/punto-mo/2020/09/21/2043938/editoryal-kamay- na-bakal-sa-magtatapon-ng-basura-sa-manila-bay/amp/ Headline STRATEGIC September 21, 2020 ✓ COMMUNICATION & Editorial Date INITIATIVES Column SERVICE 1 of 1 Opinion Page Feature Article Manila White Sands dinumog September 20, 2020 @ 11:37 AM 20 hours ago Manila, Philippines – Dumagsa ang tao sa Roxas Boulevard ngayong araw upang masilayan ang dolomite white sand sa baybayin ng Manila Bay ngayong araw ng Linggo. Bago magbukang liwayway ay marami na ang dumating sa Manila Bay kung nagkaroon naman ng mahabang pila para sa entrada ng pagpasok sa mismong pampang ng Manila Bay o kung saan makikita ang dolomite sand.