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The Department of Environment and Natural Resources announced the
formation of the Manila Bay Law Enforcement Team (MBLET), which will
enforce of all relevant environmental laws, rules and regulations
for the protection, conservation and management of the bay.
“The MBLET will spearhead the conservation of
the bay and will coordinate with concerned government agencies and
local government units with regard to its operations,” Environment
Secretary Lito Atienza said.
He stressed the need to rehabilitate the
country’s critical water resources around the industrial centers,
which are badly affected by accumulated pollution brought about by
decades of industrial activity.
Manila bay encompasses a vast shoreline area
that stretches from Cavite to Bataan. It serves as the main catch
basin of industrial waste run-off from the National Capital Region
and the neighboring industrialized regions.
The pollution level in the bay has remained
critical and pose a major health risk to the densely populated
areas, especially during the rainy season when flooding is
prevalent.
The presence of numerous illegal fish pens
occupying its expansive off-shore areas, particularly in Cavite,
exacerbates the situation by polluting the waters further and
restricting the free-flow of currents in the bay, posing certain
risk to marine life.
Atienza added these illegal structures also
obstruct the free navigation of sea-faring crafts. Atienza has
already ordered the immediate dismantling of the fish pens in Manila
Bay following requests made by the local government units of
affected provinces.
Atienza named Environment Assistant Secretary
Mark Allan Jay Yambao as team leader of the enforcement group,
citing the latter’s experience in local government administration,
his familiarity with youth advocacies and his networking skills.
Yambao will be joined by youthful volunteers
from varying backgrounds and expertise.
“Our goal is to get as many people involved as
possible, to work together and accomplish our task of stopping the
sources of pollution. This means we will reach out to the private
sector, the youth and the academe, get our heads together and
hopefully share manpower and technical expertise,” Yambao said.
Earlier, Atienza asked Maynilad and Maynila
Water to fast-track the construction of their waste water treatment
plants to address the issue of untreated sewage being discharged
into Manila Bay.
For the past 11 years, Maynilad and Manila Water
have been collecting sewerage fees worth billions of pesos from
their clients.
--James Konstantin Galvez
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