TWG prepares Manila Bay clean-up reporting system

MANILA, Feb. 18 (PNA) - A technical working group (TWG) is developing a system that agencies concerned will follow when reporting to Supreme Court (SC) respective quarterly activities undertaken for saving world-famous but dying Manila Bay.

"This will help generate orderly reporting of each agency's activities," said Executive Director Dr. Vicente Tuddao Jr. of River Basin Control Office (RBCO) which is coordinating discussions on the planned system.

Discussions commenced after SC last year imposed on agencies concerned a continuing mandamus order to clean up, rehabilitate and preserve Manila Bay so this can be among the country's economic drivers and recreational hubs again.

Tuddao said these agencies which comprise TWG include the environment, health, education, budget, public works and interior departments as well as Metropolitan Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System, Local Water and Utilities Administration, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police Maritime Group, Philippine Ports Authority and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

"We're targeting to finalize the reporting system by next month," Tuddao said.

He noted TWG set this deadline so each agency concerned can comply with SC's required reporting on what it did to help save the bay.

SC expects to receive from the agencies respective quarterly progressive reports on activities these undertook.

The High Tribunal did so to better monitor progress on work it ordered in Manila Bay which continues reeling from decades of pollution and resource depletion.

International organization Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) said a 2005 study estimated at over PhP8 billion annual economic value for using Manila Bay's resources and benefits from these.

However, PEMSEA warned of damages to these resources and corresponding socio-economic impacts of such destruction reach some PhP4 billion per year.

By signing a covenant last month, several of the agencies concerned formalized respective commitment to help save Manila Bay.

Government action for this will range from providing funds to controlling fishing there and establishing wastewater treatment facilities.

In its decision, SC upheld several private stakeholders' 1999 court petition for government to clean up and rehabilitate Manila Bay.

SC ordered that water quality there be restored to and maintained at SB level fit for swimming and other forms of contact sport.

This level is one where fecal coliform content does not exceed 200 most probable number (MPN) per milliliter (ml), SC noted while referring to standards under Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order 34-90.

Citing results of earlier sampling in beaches around Manila Bay, SC noted amount of fecal coliform content ranged between 50,000 MPN/ml to 80,000 MPN/ml.

Manila Bay has a surface area of about 1,800 square kilometers and a coastline of around 190 kilometers running along parts of National Capital Region, the country's leading urban hub, as well as Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan and Cavite provinces.

Authorities reported this bay has coral reefs and seagrass beds where fishes forage as well as mudflats suitable for shellfisheries.