After four months of massive efforts, all the submerged garbage along the waterways of 28 barangays in Cavite were already removed, a report from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) CALABARZON says.

The removal of submerged garbage is a sub-project under the first phase of the DENR’s Manila Bay Rehabilitation Project a.k.a. “Battle for Manila Bay”. The sub-project started in October 2019 and was completed in January 2020.

The DENR allotted PHP1M budget for each of the 28 barangays. PHP600K of which was allocated for the clean-up of waterways and information drive, while the remaining PHP400K was downloaded to the concerned local government units for the hauling and transportation of collected wastes to the sanitary landfills. River marshals or “Bantay-Linis Ilog” were also hired from among the locals to conduct the daily clean-up activities and assess the wastewater being discharged to the waterways.

Other activities included in the sub-project were conduct of communication, education and public awareness campaigns on the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act; conduct of livelihood training on the conversion of solid waste into income-generating projects including composting and vertical gardening; fabrication and installation of informative signages; and monitoring of unlawful acts like disposal of wastes into waterways. 

DENR Manila Bay Coordinating Office - Cavite Site Manager, Judaline Fabro said some garbage coming from other parts of the Manila Bay region accumulate in the 28 barangays whenever high tide occurs. “Nonetheless, the concerned barangay government units pledged to continue the clean-up even after the end of their contract with the DENR”, she added. ###