DENR launches “from ridge to reefs” clean-up program

PILAR, Bataan – Bent on ridding the province of stagnant and polluting rivers, Raul H. Mamac, head of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), disclosed that their clean-up program along the Manila Bay area is not only concentrated in the coastal towns but also along rivers in the mountains and barangays that serve as water ways going all the way to Manila Bay.

“This is what we call from ridge to reefs since we are going to clean those areas including small and narrow rivers from hills and mountains that possibly become the laying ground and source of bacteria that cause diseases due to its polluted and stagnant waters. If these areas are not cleaned up then it will contaminate the Manila Bay and contribute further to the environmental degradation of our beaches in the area,” pointed out Mamac.

In their bid to drum up support from the public, Mamac said they had also conducted forums among punong barangays and other local officials in towns forming part of the Manila Bay area such as Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Balanga City, Abucay, Samal, Orani and Hermosa.

It was learned that the DENR has allotted P849.1 million from the National Greening Program- “Manila BAYanihan Para sa Kalinisan Program” and other environmental programs of the agency.

For her part, Mila Ramirez, DENR Bataan officer and Manila Bay rehabilitation program focal person, also said the massive launching of forums is aimed at informing village officials and other local officials of their major role in the rehabilitation and cleaning up of the bay, saying the public themselves are the ones affected and benefit from it.

Ramirez pointed out that said lectures will also inform the public on how Bataan affects Manila Bay, best practices on solid waste management, planning of shelter among locals, the benefit of good fishery practices, and habitat.

“This is a national concern and priority environmental program of DENR, so we have to act with dispatch by also tapping the help of the local and barangay officials and of course the public themselves,” stressed Mamac.

The DENR Bataan is the lead agency of the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the Manila Bay rehabilitation program in the province whose members include the Phil. Information Agency, DILG, DPWH, NHA, Bataan Peninsula State University, provincial government of Bataan, and concerned local government units.