CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) -- Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) underscored that the implementation of projects in line with the Manila Bay Clean-up program in Central Luzon is efficient.
 
The region is one of the areas in the country mandated to restore the water quality of Manila Bay in accordance with the Writ of Continuing Mandamus of the Supreme Court.
 
DILG Regional Director Anthony Nuyda emphasized that the 90 local government units (LGUs) included in the program are continuously intensifying their initiatives to help in cleaning up the Manila Bay and its tributaries.
 
“With their implementation of the Manila Bay program, many LGUs in the region are awarded during the yearly assessment. I could say that the implementation is efficient, and hopefully, with the efforts of everyone not only in Central Luzon but also in the National Capital Region and CALABARZON, we will be able to clean up the waters of Manila Bay,” he said.
 
Balanga City in Bataan and Baliwag town in Bulacan were hailed as national top performers of the MANILA BAYani Awards & Incentives 2022.
 
It is the highest honor given to LGUs championing best environmental practices towards the rehabilitation of Manila Bay.
 
Meanwhile, Nuyda highlighted that all LGUs in Central Luzon have their 10-year approved solid waste management plan. “We all know that one of the main causes of the pollution of the bay are our solid wastes that are not properly managed,” he said.
 
All LGUs also have ordinances on septage and sewerage management.
 
“This is very important in terms of our liquid waste, which are also pollutants of Manila Bay waters. We are now in the process of planning on how to implement their projects and plans based on the ordinances,” he added.
 
Local government officials are also continuously doing relocation programs for informal settler families.
 
DILG, together with other mandamus agencies, will continue to assist LGUs in the monitoring and implementation of their projects for the clean-up program.
 
The Supreme Court mandamus directs 13 government agencies to clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve Manila Bay, and restore and maintain its waters to SB level to make them fit for swimming, skin-diving, and other forms of contact recreation.
 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order No. 34, series of 1990 defines coastal and marine waters under Class SB classification as areas regularly used by the public for bathing, swimming, and skin diving, and as spawning areas for Chanos chanos or bangus and similar species. (CLJD/JLDC-PIA 3)