Determined to bring back Manila Bay to its former state, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Friday led another extensive cleanup of the waterway’s coastline to rekindle public support to restore the now polluted waterway.
Estrada lamented that nine years after the Supreme Court issued a writ ordering the cleanup of Manila Bay, significant results have yet to be achieved because of the lack or absence of cooperation from the people.
“We have not received the public’s complete cooperation in our initiatives to clean up this vital waterway,” Estrada said. “But I have not lost hope, that someday, we will be able to bring back cleanliness and beauty of Manila Bay.”
“We have one objective here, and that is to return Manila Bay to the way it was: Clean, green, and litter-free,” Estrada added.
On Dec. 18, 2008, the high tribunal issued a writ of continuing mandamus directing 13 government agencies to clean up, rehabilitate and eventually preserve Manila Bay. They were given 10 years to do it.
In the City of Manila, Estrada said “we take the Supreme Court’s order very seriously.”
“As you all know, Manila has always been a tourist magnet with our beautiful spots and historical and cultural sites. But unfortunately, this once beautiful city became a victim to indifference and lack of political will,” Estrada said.
The Manila Bay cleanup was organized by the management of Rizal Park Hotel, the former historic Army Navy Club in Roxas Boulevard, as part of its corporate social responsibility program to beautify the City of Manila, Rizal Park Hotel Chairman Simon Paz said.
Oceanville Executive Vice President Mark Brian Paz extended the company’s gratitude to the city government of Manila, saying it was an honor to take part in this activity and be a partner in the efforts to bring back the City’s old beauty and glory.
Completed in April 17, 1911, the Army Navy Club was the first American social club to be established in the Philippines and served as rest and recreation area for the exclusive use of the US military personnel and civilians, and later Filipinos.
With the help of the private sector, including Rizal Park Hotel, Estrada is confident the city government can restore Manila Bay as a natural landmark of beauty and history.
Through the Task Force Manila Cleanup and other city hall offices, Estrada has been regularly leading efforts to clean up Manila Bay, collecting hundreds of truckloads of trash from its coastline since he assumed office in 2013.
In September 19, 2015, he even led 10,000 participants in the 30th International Coastal Cleanup along the shorelines of the Manila Bay that was held simultaneously all over the Philippines and in 153 countries around the world, with the country constantly topping the chart in volunteer turnout.
On the part of the city government of Manila, it mobilized, for Friday’s activity, its various units and offices such as Manila Tourism and Cultural Affairs Bureau, Task Force Manila Cleanup, Department of Public Services, Department of Engineering and Public Works, Manila Police District, and even the Manila Barangay Bureau which mobilized hundreds of barangay personnel and volunteers to take part in the cleanup activity.
Other government agencies that also took part in the event include the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Tourism (DOT), and National Parks Development Committee (NPDC).
Students from the city-run Universidad de Manila (UDM) and the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) and candidates of Mr. and Ms. Chinatown beauty pageant also participated in the day-long cleanup.