The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Friday, May 24, 2024 held an event to mark the 5th year anniversary of the Department’s Sagip Manila Bay Program” with the theme: “Sustaining Progress: Five Years Commitment to Rehabilitating Manila Bay”.
Representing DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan and Undersecretary Roberto R. Bernardo, chairperson of DPWH Manila Bay Special Task Force, were Assistant Secretary Nerie D. Bueno and Regional Office 4A Director Jovel G. Mendoza who led the anniversary celebration, held through a short program and a desilting operation along a tributary of Manila Bay in Bacoor, Cavite.
The event was held at Brgy. Mabolo I, Bacoor City was also attended by Bacoor City Mayor Strike Revilla, DPWH National Capital Region Director Loreta Malaluan, Legal Service Director Gliricidia Tumaliuan-Ali, and Bureau of Equipment Director Toribio Noel Ilao, as well as representatives from Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Office 4A, and Department of Interior and Local Government Regional Office 4A.
Since the launching of the DPWH Sagip Manila Bay Program in 2019, thousands of projects have been undertaken by the Department in various areas including water management, solid waste management, social preparation and relocation, as well as habitat and ecosystem management.
To improve Manila Bay’s water quality, the DPWH Bureau of Equipment, Unified Project Management Office – Flood Control Management Cluster, Regional Offices in NCR, 3, and 4A managed to dredge a total of 26.53 million cubic meters of silt and sediments along Manila Bay and its tributary waterways in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon in five (5) years.
Another major accomplishment covers solid waste management which include construction of 363 sanitation facilities, installation of 43 material recovery facilities, conduct of coastal cleanup activities, and regular declogging of drainage structures in concerned regions.
New pumping stations and booster pumps were likewise installed along flood-prone areas in Metro Manila, which is incorporated with automatic trash rakes to filter garbage and prevent it from further polluting the Manila Bay. (ANTONIO)
