State-run Development Bank of the Philippines, the eighth-largest lender in terms of assets, said it is willing to provide the necessary financing to all establishments located near Manila Bay in support of the government’s efforts to rehabilitate the area.
DBP president and chief executive officer Cecilia Borromeo said in a statement Monday the bank’s loan programs on environment protection and its experience in bankrolling water treatment and sanitation projects would be beneficial to companies seeking to comply with existing environmental rules and regulations.
“DBP is ready to provide the necessary financial and technical assistance to all establishments near or along the coast of Manila Bay to ensure compliance to environmental laws and regulations,” Borromeo said.
“DBP is prepared to do its share in this inter-sectoral initiative to clean up, rehabilitate, and improve the water quality of Manila Bay and its tributaries,” Borromeo said.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources recently spearheaded a massive cleanup of the 2,000-square kilometer Manila Bay, which has degraded over the years due to domestic sewage, toxic industrial effluents, and leachate from dumps.
DBP recently joined the inauguration of the bank-funded Paranaque Sewerage Treatment Plant of the Maynilad Water Services, Inc. which is the pioneer large-scale Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR)-compliant wastewater treatment facility in the country.
The plant uses Conventional Activated Sludge technology to remove pollutants from wastewater currently collected from about 100,000 Maynilad customers in Paranaque City before its discharge to the Malabon Creek, which eventually flows out to Manila Bay.
Borromeo said the DBP would further coordinate with the DENR, the local government units, other government entities, and the private sector in finding a sustainable solution to improve water quality in Manila Bay.
Meanwhile, Government Service Insurance System President and General Manager Jesus Clint Aranas assured the public that it will immediately take steps to address the notice of violation served to its head office in Pasay City.
The GSIS head office is situated along Roxas Boulevard facing Manila Bay where rehabilitation and cleanup works are being done.
“I was actually surprised when I came to know about the notice as we have been religiously monitoring our compliance with the guidelines of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) by having our wastewaters tested by an independent laboratory. In fact, these self-monitoring tests have yielded negative results for pollution in the past three months,” Aranas said.
The pension fund chief said that GSIS is set to upgrade its sewage treatment plant into a more cost-effective and low-maintenance system to support the environment.
“As we speak, GSIS is finalizing the terms of reference to procure the upgrading of its sewage treatment plant that will blaze the trail in complying with the new water guidelines and general effluent standards of DENR.”
The pension fund chief said that GSIS is a staunch advocate of environmental protection, one of its corporate social responsibility programs. “Every year, GSIS never fails to participate in the coastal cleanup drive of Manila Bay.”
He added that GSIS is committed to support the government’s campaign to clean up Manila Bay and restore it to its “old grandeur”.