DENR wants to reduce coliform level in Manila Bay to make it ‘swimmable’

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is aiming to rehabilitate the heavily-polluted Manila Bay and eventually make it fit for swimming once again.

"The current level now is 330 million MPN. The objective is to bring it to a level, which it can be swimmable. The coliform level must be less than 100 mpn," Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said at a press conference in Quezon City on Thursday.

MPN refers to most probable number of fecal coliform bacteria per 100 milliliter.

Last week, Cimatu announced that the DENR will begin its rehabilitation of Manila Bay in January. 

Cimatu said the DENR's initiative to rehabilitate the Manila Bay is in accordance with the writ of continuing mandamus to cleanup the body of water issued a decade ago.

In December 2008, the Supreme Court issued the mandamus to 13 government agencies to clean up, rehabilitate and eventually preserve Manila Bay.

He added that the DENR is fulfilling its part under a writ of continuing mandamus on the Manila Bay cleanup issued a decade ago.

On December 18, 2008, the Supreme Court issued the mandamus directing 13 government agencies - DENR, etro Manila Development Authority; Departments of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); Education; Health; Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries; Public Works and Highways; Budget and Management; Interior and Local Government; Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police-Maritime Group, Philippine Ports Authority, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, and Local Water Utilities Administration - to clean up, rehabilitate and preserve Manila Bay in their different capacities. 

"I accept the challenge to rehabilitate Manila Bay. If nobody else will do it? Who will do it? It's the DENR, and it's really my mandate and I am very optimistic this will be done," Cimatu said.

"By end of next year, we expect we will have a better Manila Bay. I hope we will be able to reduce the coliform level from 330 million MPN," he said.

The Environment chief blamed the pollution in Manila Bay to esteros which discharges polluted water to the bay.

"The problem is coming from esteros in Metro Manila," Cimatu said, noting that the cleanup will start in identifying which esteros contribute the most number of coliform bacteria in the Manila Bay.

As a short-term solution, Environment Undersecretary Sherwin Rigor said the DENR will employ "silt curtains"  in identified esteros, wherein water will be treated before it can be discharged to Manila Bay.

The DENR will also hold establishments liable if found illegally discharging water to the bay.

"The model for rehab is similar to what we have done to Boracay," Rigor said. — RSJ, GMA News