The City of Makati was ranked first among compliant local government units in Metro Manila in clearing creeks and waterways, and in managing solid and liquid waste aimed at rehabilitating Manila Bay and its related water systems.
The recognition came from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, which monitors LGUs regarding a Supreme Court ruling.
The ruling mandates them to strictly monitor compliance of their constituents with environmental laws aimed to prevent sewage water and industrial and human wastes from polluting rivers, esteros and other waterways that form part of the tributary systems of the Manila Bay.
Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay said she was thankful that all the hard work of the city to clean up its waterways and fulfil its role in the restoration of Manila Bay to its former glory have paid off.
“We have been working hard for over three years now to clean up our waterways and rid them of solid and liquid wastes to make a significant impact on ongoing efforts to restore Manila Bay to its former glory. We are heartened by the remarkable progress we have made,” she said.
The city chief executive noted that in 2017, Makati ranked 14th in the said assessment, and then jumped 10 spots to fourth place last year, which merited the 2018 “Most Improved LGU” Award from DILG National Capital Region.
This year, Makati bested 16 other localities in the NCR, garnering a total score of 96.4 percent.
“This kind of validation inspires the city government and personnel to continue working hard and putting our best foot forward to proactively implement environmental laws and policies in our city,” Binay said.
Last January, the city government started its compliance with the DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2019-09 which requires the local government to have a weekly waterways cleanup within its jurisdiction.
The Solid Waste Management Division of the Department of Environmental Services SWMD-DES), together with the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) and Barangay Taga-Linis staff and volunteers, have regularly cleaned up creeks, esteros and canals throughout the city.
During the first half of the year, some 230,000 kilograms of solid waste were collected by the composite team.
The DEPW has also conducted regular drainage declogging operations, where the group had hauled 54,745 metric tons of solid waste during the same period.
The Office of the Building Official has also inspected 2,060 septic tanks of commercial establishments to ensure their compliance with government standards, while the Makati Health Department – Health Inspection Division has inspected 59,156 private residences.
Water bodies being monitored and maintained in District I include Tripa de Gallina in Barangays Bangkal and San Isidro; Malugay Creek in Bel-Air; Morado Creek, Dasmarinas; Maricaban Creek in Forbes Park and Magallanes; Sta. Clara Creek in Kasilawan; Calatagan Creek in Palanan;
P. Medina Creek in Pio del Pilar; PNR Creek in San Antonio; Hidalgo Creek in San Lorenzo; Sta. Ana Creek in Tejeros; and the Canal Drainage System in Singkamas and Urdaneta.
For District II, these are Pateros-Comembo River in Comembo; Pasig-Pateros River in East Rembo; For the Boys Creek in Cembo; San Jose Creek, Guadalupe Nuevo; Balisampan Creek, Guadalupe Viejo and Pinagkaisahan; Mullen Creek, Pembo; Pasig River along Poblacion;
Teachers Compound, JP Rizal Canal in P.P. Northside; Maricaban Creek, P.P. Southside; Paloma Creek, Rizal; San Jose Creek, South Cembo; and Pasig River and Canals in West Rembo.
Based on the guidelines of the Manila Bay Clean-up, Rehabilitation and Preservation Program (MBCRPP), the DILG has assessed the LGUs in four categories.
Liquid Waste Management monitors the discharging of waste water into Manila Bay; Solid Waste Management is based on the reduction of solid waste flowing through Manila Bay; Informal Settlers’ Families (ISF) which deals with the removal of any encroachments along rivers and other waterways in the Manila Bay regions; and lastly, Information Education Communication (IEC) management.
Task Force Makati Waterways, created unde DES, functions as the leading team to review, implement, submit and assess the rehabilitation programs of the city to revive its rivers, esteros, and waterways.
The task force is composed of DES, DEPW, OBO, Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Makati, Office of the City Administrator, Law Department, Urban Development Department, Makati Health Department, Makati Social Welfare Department, Liga ng mga Barangay, DILG-Makati, Budget Department, Human Resource Development Office, Information and Community Relations Department, Makati Police, and two water concessionaires, Manila Water and Maynilad.
