Villar calls for improved sewerage system to save Manila Bay

Senator Cynthia Villar on Tuesday underscored the importance of a Sewerage Treatment Plan (STP) to help clean and save Manila Bay.

She issued the statement in response to the plan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to build the solar-powered Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Baywalk area in Malate, Manila.

The STP, which is capable of catching and treating 500,000 liters of wastewater per day from the drainage outfalls of Padre Faura, Remedios, and Estero de San Antonio Abad, was inaugurated last July 30 by DENR Secretary Frank Cimatu and MMDA Chair Gen. Danilo Lim.

DENR plans to install additional solar-powered STPs to handle wastewater from Parañaque River, Tullahan-Tinajeros River, and Las Piñas-Zapote River.

Villar, chair of the Senate environment committee,said this is a “welcome development” to improve the waters of Manila Bay.

“We should all do our part, not just whenever we can, but as much as we can. All over the world, many things are happening due to environmental destruction, degradation and neglect,” she said.

Villar, also chair of the Senate agriculture committee, said that many fishermen depend on Manila Bay for their livelihood.

This is the source of fish supply for the National Capital Region (NCR), Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) and some parts of Cavite and Bataan.

Manila Bay has 1.7 million hectares drainage area with 17 river systems draining into it. Villar made it her advocacy to work with local government units (LGUs) to maintain the cleanliness of rivers within their municipalities to contribute to Manila Bay’s protection and preservation

“Plastic wastes ang isa sa pinaka-malubhang nakakapinsala sa ating kapaligiran at pumapatay sa mga yamang dagat. Alam natin lahat iyan dahil sa lahat ng mga cleanups, puro plastic wastes ang nako-collect natin,” said the senator.

Villar noted that the Philippines is the third biggest source of plastic leaking into the oceans, after China at Indonesia.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)