QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- Data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-National Capital Region (DENR-NCR) West Field Office showed that 12,187 sacks of solid waste were collected from the Baywalk area on July 16-29 after rains brought by the enhanced southwest monsoon or "habagat" inundated parts of Metro Manila and several Luzon areas.

Among the garbage that was collected were single-use plastic cups, plastic bottles, and personal items, such as bags, shoes, slippers, and clothes.

Health care wastes, bamboo poles and wooden planks, water hyacinths, and dead animals were also retrieved.

DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu has reminded the public to do their share in helping the government rehabilitate Manila Bay, stressing that solid waste management is everyone's responsibility.

The DENR chief issued the statement after tons of trash were washed ashore on Manila Bay due to incessant 

"As the primary government agency responsible for the environment, we would like to remind all Filipinos that it is not solely the duty of the DENR to be the guardian of the country’s environment and vast natural resources," Cimatu said.

“We are all in this together. As stewards of nature, we must ensure that wastes are properly managed and disposed of,” Cimatu added.

The agency’s solid waste management program is one of Cimatu’s priority programs when he assumed office in 2017.

Under Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, all local governments should have a residual waste disposal system.

Section 37 of RA 9003 "prohibits the use of open dumpsites for solid waste." (DENR-NCR/PIA-NCR)