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Friday, March 29, 2024

95 LGUs along Manila Bay fail environment law

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More than half of the local government units surrounding Manila Bay have failed to comply with environmental laws, the Interior Department said Thursday.

READ: Seven-year effort to save Manila Bay unwraps

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said 95 LGUs or 53 percent of the total 178 failed to hit the indicators measuring their compliance with environmental laws.

The number consists of 56 LGUs from Central Luzon, 37 from Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) and two from the National Capital Region.

READ: Calabarzon MGB, groups back Manila Bay rehab

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The department identified these LGUs based on the 2018 Regional Inter-Agency Committee table assessments and on-site inspections.

“There were decades worth of shortcomings that led to the problems of Manila Bay but we are not here to point fingers anymore,” Año said in a statement. 

“We, through the directive of the President, are here to bring back the Bay to its former glory and we need all LGUs to do their part.”

Año said 16 of the LGUS were described as having the “worst problems,” and that the department would be helping them first.  

“Based on our assessment, we still have a lot of work to do and we intend to start with these 16 LGUs as we go along assisting all of the 178. We will help them. We will not leave them behind,” Año said.

He said the DILG could extend help to those LGUs by providing capacity development, workshops, coaching and mentoring in creating programs in line with environmental laws.

Meanwhile, Año also warned the LGUs that would fail to cooperate with them in rehabilitating Manila Bay.

“We can also file cases against them with the Ombudsman or recommend disciplinary action to the President if warranted. So we challenge all LGUs to shape up. We need them to fight and win the Battle for Manila Bay,” he said.

Año said his department would continue monitoring the LGUs to ensure they were complying with environmental laws for the rehabilitation and preservation of Manila Bay,

The results of the LGU Compliance Assessment were released to the LGUs during a recent local government executives’ forum on the rehabilitation of Manila Bay.

The assessment aims to assess LGU compliance with environmental laws and policies; identify necessary assistance needed by the LGUs, and demand accountability from the LGUs based on their actions/inactions on their mandates. 

READ: Cimatu chides 178 mayors for esteros neglect

READ: MWSS seeks masterplan for Manila Bay revival bid

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