February 28, 2022 at 3:27pm| 3:27pm
MANILA, Philippines — The officer-in-charge of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said Monday he will continue the agency’s efforts in rehabilitating Manila Bay and other rivers, and improving solid waste management in the country.
Jim Sampulna, DENR officer in charge, committed to continuing the major environmental programs of Roy Cimatu (ex-secretary) who resigned for health reasons.
“Our focus is improving the bay’s water quality. We are looking at completing the second phase of beach nourishment project while further reducing fecal coliform level to make the bay safe for swimming, boating and other form of contact recreation,” Sampulna said.
He stated that the department will continue to clean up priority river systems and other important water bodies.
The DENR started the rehabilitation of Manila Bay in January 2019. The agency reported a decrease of coliform levels at several sampling stations and rivers in January. This was attributed to solid waste management strategies, geoengineering interventions and compliance monitoring.
It also created an artificial white sandy beach from crushed dolomite stones in the Baywalk area, despite opposition by environmental campaigners as well as fisherfolk.
Scientists and environmentalists believe that conserving and restoring the coastal ecosystems like mangrove forests or mudflats can help to restore the bay.
Sampulna also said the department’s plan of building a cannon replica along Baywalk—which is supposed to serve as a reminder of the DENR’s commitment to rehabilitate Manila Bay—will be studied.
“We’re studying whether we put up or no longer put up. We will ask whether it’s acceptable to the people,” he said.
Solid waste, forest management
Sampulna stated that local government units will receive technical assistance in building sanitary landfills under his leadership of DENR. DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones said the agency is focused on finalizing a list of non-environmentally accepted products and packaging in a bid to address the country’s plastic pollution problem.
Sampulna also said the department will strengthen reforestation efforts through the Enhanced National Greening Program and protection of the country’s forests.
“We will also ensure the sustainable management of protected areas and preserve the biodiversity of terrestrial and marine ecosystem,” he said.
Forest rangers from Masungi Georeserve Foundation were attacked by people who claimed to be working in the Upper Marikina River Basin protected landscape.
Masungi, in partnership with government, is restoring 2,700 hectares of land within the protected zone.
Leones stated that the agency is currently reviewing the memorandum with the foundation in order to determine what needs strengthening and changing. The MOA was signed by Gina Lopez, the late environment chief.
According to Sampulna, the DENR is aiming to replicate the rehabilitation of Boracay Island in other ecotourism sites such as Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro, Coron and El Nido in Palawan, Panglao in Bohol, and Siargao in Surigao del Norte.
Responding to the climate change impacts, DENR OIC stated that it will continue to conduct vulnerability assessment and risk assessment for groundwater resource and geohazard. They will also double the effort to ensure that mineral development is not done without due diligence.
The Philippines is one the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Scientists warn that some of the effects of climate change are irreversible for many centuries and millennia.