DENR, other agencies clean polluted esteros draining into Manila Bay

Several government agencies led by the Department of Environment and National Resources on Sunday conducted a simultaneous cleanup activity of 10 polluted esteros emptying into the Manila Bay, Mav Gonzales reported on Balitanghali.

DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Danny Lim, and a representative from the Department of Transport led the cleanup activity, as part of the Manila Bay rehabilitation program.

They started as early as 6:00 a.m. at the Estero De Magdalena in Recto, Manila, with the help of representatives from the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission.

Photo by Danny Pata

All sorts of solid waste materials, including plastic bags and bottles, were recovered from the polluted waterway.

In Estero De Lazaro, 250 volunteers from the Bureau of Fire protection also helped in the cleanup drive.

Meanwhile, the water in Estero De Binondo, the most polluted waterway in Manila, was all covered with trash.

As of 8 a.m., volunteers collected 600 sacks of garbage from Estero de Magdalena, more than 50 sacks from Estero de San Lazaro, and 241 sacks from the coastal area of Barangay Bagombayan North in Navotas City, the DENR said.

Several barangay leaders took oath during the cleanup drive, and promised to clean the esteros regularly. —Joviland Rita/LBG, GMA News