City hall clears Manila Zoo as major Manila Bay pollutant

The Manila City engineering office doubts that Manila Zoo is one of the major pollutants of the Manila Bay, as the park uses animal manure for fertilizer while all of its human waste go straight to septic tanks.

The Manila Zoo is temporarily closed effective Wednesday until further notice after the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) tagged it as a major pollutant of the bay, according to a 24 Oras report by Cedric Castillo.

The park was closed to give way to rehabilitation works.

The major attraction of the Manila Zoo, among the more than 600 different kinds of animals, is Mali the only elephant in the Philippines.

The Manila Zoo collects all of its animal waste to be placed in compost pits.

"Sa per day natin, ang nako-collect namin at least mga three to four sacks. Ginagawa naming fertilizer. Kung makikita niyo marami tayong halaman dito, marami tayong mga plant boxes. Du'n din namin siya nire-recycle," Roland Marino, chief, Manila Parks Division said.

Meanwhile, all human waste go directly to septic tanks.

"Generally, hindi naman masyadong malaking contribution 'yung Manila Zoo sa Manila Bay, not really. The mayor instructed to repair it for about four months pero if we can complete it shorter, we will prioritize," said Engr. Rogelio Legaspi, the Manila City Engineer.

The Manila City Government memorandum, however, indicated that the closure was due to untreated sewage or dirty water coming from Manila Zoo that disposed straight to the Manila Bay through the estuary.

A discussion is still ongoing on whether a water treatment facility is needed inside the zoo.

"Ano po ba ang i-treat namin? Wala namang chemicals, wala namang hazardous wastes kami na nage-generate dito," said Engineer. Legaspi.

Meanwhile, with the zoo closed, there were students who are unable to do research work.

"Hindi na po sa ngayon. Maghahanap na lang kami ng alternative na zoo," said a male student. — Jamil Santos/BAP, GMA News