DENR to start Manila Bay rehab in January 2019

(Eagle News) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will start the rehabilitation of Manila Bay in the second week of January next year.

“I am determined to start the rehabilitation of Manila Bay immediately, possibly to start [in the] second week of January,” Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said on Monday, December 16.

The official also said that the agency will use the same scheme adopted in Boracay to rehabilitate and restore the polluted bay.

“The next war we are going to wage is against #ManilaBay. The rehab of Manila Bay is a very tall order not only for the DENR but also the other agencies in the mandamus,” the official said in a post on Twitter.

Cimatu noted that the Manila Bay’s current levels of coliform bacteria of 330 million mpn (most probable number) per 100 milliliters is making the Manila Bay a “magnified cesspool.”

“Maraming nagsasabi na mahirap ang gagawin sa Manila Bay, dahil in 10 years ay puro salita lang. But I am determined to do it. The DENR can do it. Ang next generation ang makikinabang dito,” he said.