At least P1.4 billion will be used to sustain the cleanup and rehabilitation of Manila Bay under the proposed 2020 national budget.
President Duterte has asked Congress to pass the budget proposal for next year that includes allocation for the Manila Bay cleanup in line with effective management of natural resources.
“Some P10.7 billion is provided to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to improve air and water quality management, as well as solid and hazardous waste control, among others,” the Pesident said in his recent budget message to Congress.
“Furthermore, P1.4 billion has also been earmarked for the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program to help clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve the coastal and marine ecosystem of the Manila Bay,” he added.
Early this year, the government launched the massive rehabilitation of Manila Bay amid concerns about the polluted waters, shortly after the six-month cleanup of Boracay Island.
The President, in his State-of-the-Nation Address last July, said the government has a long way to go in the Manila Bay rehabilitation but is encouraged by the improved water results near Padre Faura St. in Ermita, Manila.
Duterte said the government intends to relocate informal settlers as well as threatened to shut down establishments that pollute the Manila Bay.
In the same budget message, the President said the government has allocated P26.4 billion to the DENR to facilitate the natural resources resiliency policies and implement resource management strategies including the rehabilitation of coastal areas.
“Coastal communities are in need of effective resource management, given the degradation of marine ecosystems, overfishing, coastal hazards, and population growth,” Duterte said.
He said P1.6 billion would be earmarked for the coastal and marine ecosystems rehabilitation that seeks to protect and restore the country’s marine biodiversity and coastal habitats.
At least P73 million will go to the Environment and Natural Resources Resiliency program to create better-adapted ecosystems in vulnerable areas in the country such as forests and watersheds. (Genalyn Kabiling)
