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DENR National Capital Region

Cimatu leads inspection of Manila Bay

ays ahead the launch of the Manila Bay
DRehabilitation Project, DENR Secretary
Roy A. Cimatu led the inspection of parts of
the bay area in Metro Manila, as well as the
different river outfalls and esteros.
One particular waterway that caught the
attention of the Secretary is Estero de San
Antonio de Abad in Malate, Manila which
drains straight to Manila Bay through an outfall
near the Manila Yacht Club.
Tests conducted by DENR National Capital
Region showed that it registered a high of 1
billion most probable number (mpn) of fecal
coliform per 100 ml. The standard however is
100mpn/100ml.
Identifying the point sources of untreated
wastewater polluting Manila Bay, according
to Cimatu, is important in restoring it to the
Supreme Court prescribed Class SB level.
Photo shows Sec. Cimatu and other DENR high
officials on board a boat inspecting the mouth of
Pasig River.

DENR-NCR redouble efforts in water quality monitoring

To better guide planning design and management
decision making in relation to the on-going rehabilitation
of Manila Bay, DENR National Capital Region Regional
Executive Director Jacqueline A. Caancan instructed
the Environmental Management Bureau-National
Capital Region (EMB-NCR) to redouble its efforts in
water quality sampling and monitoring. Likewise, she
directed the bureau to add new sampling sites, including
offshore areas.

The samples collected will be analyzed to determine the
presence of pollutants like fecal coliform, oil and grease
and other harmful chemicals.

At present, the regional office regularly receives reports EMB National Capital Region Water Quality Monitoring team takes
on water quality through the three designated Water samples and in-situ reading of water conditions inside the North Harbor
Quality Monitoring Areas (WQMA) under EMB-NCR, compound in Port Area, Tondo, Manila. The water samples will be taken
to the laboratory for analysis.
Pasig River Unified Monitoring System (PRUMS),
Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), and RED Caancan also ordered the creation of joint
Manila Bay Coordinating Office (MBCO) for a total of inspection teams to conduct easement delineation
90 sampling sites. With the directive however of RED survey along major and priority waterways in the cities
Caancan, an additional 101 water quality sampling sites of San Juan, Mandaluyong, Manila, Pasay, Parañaque
will be established. and Las Piñas.