MANILA, Philippines – Rehabilitation efforts in Manila Bay were put on hold towards the end of 2020 due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.
According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), not all workers were able to come to work and movement of materials was hampered by the pandemic specifically with the implementation of community quarantine restrictions especially in Metro Manila.
Nevertheless, Environment Undersecretary Jonas Leones said coliform content or pollution level in Manila Bay has already declined.
“There was already a drastic improvement. From millions and billions, naging thousands na lang yan but we still have to determine ano iyong cause ng fluctuations,” Leones said.
This year, the agency plans to identify possible sources of contaminated water such as creeks.
He added that rehabilitation of main waterways that flows through Manila Bay such as Marikina River, Pasig River, and Tullahan River is imperative.
Currently, a total of 134 creeks have been cleaned, although there are still over 300 others in the National Capital Region (NCR), Regions 3 and 4 that need rehabilitation.
“Unless we determine ang mga possible sources ng mga discharges maliban dito sa three outfall na ginagawa natin talagang hindi natin malilinis ang water quality dyan,” Leones added.
Before the rehabilitation’s anniversary in January 29, the task force in charge of the Manila Bay rehabilitation is targeting to extend the beach where dolomite sand was first placed.
Installation of public toilets and souvenir stalls is also part of the plan.
Once coliform level reaches safe level, swimming at the beach will soon be allowed.
“Kapag na meet na natin ang standard na hundered most probable number per 100 ml so we will issue an advisory that they can swim. But for the meantime, hindi pa natin nami-meet ang quality standard so hindi pa pwedeng magswimming,” the official said. MNP (with reports from Rey Pelayo)
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