The rehabilitation of Manila Bay is a continuing effort of the government in compliance with the Writ of Mandamus issued by the Supreme Court on December 18, 2008. Under the Order, the SC directed 13 agencies of the government, including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), “to clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve the Bay, and restore and maintain its water to Class SB level – fit for swimming, skin diving, and other forms of contact recreation.” On orders of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, then DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu launched the ‘Battle for Manila Bay’ on January 27, 2019 at the Baywalk area along Roxas Boulevard in Manila. The launch was attended by officials and employees from ‘mandamus’ agencies, local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila, academe and students, environmental groups and other stakeholders. Simultaneous cleanup activities were also conducted in various parts of the Manila Bay region in Pampanga, Cavite and Metro Manila. Following the launching, Pres. Duterte issued Administrative Order No. 16 on February 19, 2019, which calls for the expeditious rehabilitation and restoration of the coastal and marine ecosystem of the Manila Bay. The presidential order also formally created the Manila Bay Task Force, naming the DENR secretary as the chair, and the secretaries of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) as vice chairpersons.
The Order enumerates the powers and functions of the task force. These include the enforcement of relevant provisions of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 856 or the “Code on Sanitation of the Philippines,” as amended; Republic Act (RA) No. 9275 (Clean Water Act), and RA No. 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act); require all establishments, whether government or private, including subdivisions, condominiums, hospitals, etc. to immediately connect to available sewerage systems or to construct individual sewerage treatment plants (STPs); and undertake remedial measures using engineering and technological interventions to improve the Bay’s water quality, particularly to reduce coliform level in all major river systems and tributaries within the Manila Bay Region. Manila Bay is not only a historical icon to the Filipino people, but also a marine jewel that continues to contribute substantially to the national economy. Located at the southwest portion of Luzon, facing the West Philippine Sea, Manila Bay’s surface area measures around 199 square kilometers (199,400 hectares). It encompasses eight (8) provinces, 178 LGUs, some 5,714 barangays in Regions 3 (Central Luzon), 4-A (CALABARZON) and the National Capital Region (NCR). Its coastline runs 190 kilometers, with at least 17 major river systems in the three regions draining to the Bay.
Manila Bay is not only a historical icon to the Filipino people, but also a marine jewel that continues to contribute substantially to the national economy.
2. Background
• SC Decision of Dec. 18, 2008 ordered for the
immediate clean up and rehabilitation of the
Manila Bay and bring back its waters to Class SB
level, which is fit for swimming, skin diving and
other forms of contact recreation
• The ridge-to-reef (R2R) approach is exercised
given the interconnectedness of land and water
ecosystem management.
3. Manila Bay Rehabilitation
Program
the priority program of the former DENR Secretary Roy
Cimatu as per the Supreme Court G.R. Nos. 171947-48
that all mandamus agencies are directed to act and
perform their respective duties and responsibilities by
devising a consolidated, coordinated, and concerted
scheme of action for the rehabilitation and restoration of
the Manila Bay
4. Background
•On January 27, 2019, the DENR launched the campaign called “Battle
for Manila Bay” that is aimed at “restoring the water quality of Manila
Bay in accordance with the Writ of Continuing Mandamus of the
Supreme Court,” officially declaring the start of the rehabilitation of the
Manila Bay.
•Following the launching, Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued
Administrative Order No. 16 on February 19, 2019, which calls for the
expeditious rehabilitation and restoration of the coastal and marine
ecosystem of the Manila Bay. It formally created the Manila Bay Task
Force, which is composed of the DENR, DILG, DOT, DPWH, DOH,
DA, HUDCC, MMDA, PRRC, LWUA, MWSS, PNP-MG, PCG, PPA,
Manila Water, and MAYNILAD.
5. DILG MC-2019-09
Observance of the Weekly Conduct of Clean Up Drive relative to the
Manila Bay Clean Up, Rehabilitation, and Preservation Program
….all cities, municipalities and barangays in the MB watershed areas
shall organize a cleanup drive which shall be conducted in areas
such as but not limited to, coastal areas and/or inland water
systems in their respective localities, starting Jan. 27, 2019 and every
Saturday thereafter….
Background
6. Manila Bay Region (MBR)
• In Region 3, MBR covers 5 provinces of Bataan,
Bulacan, Pampanga(coastal), Nueva Ecija and
Tarlac
• In R3, covers 94 cities and municipalities with a
total of 2,316 barangays
Bataan – 12 (9)Tarlac - 6
Bulacan – 24 (6) Nueva Ecija - 30
Pampanga – 22 (3)
