Paje grilled at Senate over trash in Manila Bay
Environment Secretary Ramon Paje INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje was grilled in the Senate Monday over the garbage problem in Manila Bay that was affecting a critical environmental habitat.
Senator Cynthia Villar, vice chairperson of Senate environment committee, asked Paje whether there was any budget allocated for the Las Piñas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA) in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ 2015 budget citing the accumulating trash there.
She said that no one was cleaning up the trash in the Manila Bay and it was affecting the quality of the habitat, which is a vital sanctuary for migratory birds.
Villar said that she takes high school students to the LPPCHEA every Friday to clean up the trash there. “I’m the only one cleaning it,” she said.
Paje cited that there was some budget allocated for the purchase of trash-collecting boats to clean up the Manila Bay.
“We already have four,” Paje said citing some boats that were distributed to the Local Government Units (LGUs) around Manila Bay such as Bataan, Cavite, and also in Metro Manila.
He said two more batches of trash-collecting boats – 20 and 16 boats – are arriving soon.
Senator Loren Legarda, chairperson of the Senate Environment Committee, however said that trash-collecting boats are not the solution to clean up Manila Bay.
“Buying trash-collecting boats is not the solution to trash in Manila Bay,” Legarda said.
“Manila Bay is becoming the garbage dump of three regions around Manila,” she said. “All LGUs surrounding Manila Bay should help to clean up Manila Bay, from Bataan to Cavite.”
The P20.849-billion budget for 2015 of the DENR will be poured into several projects including the National Greening Program, solid waste management program, and protected areas.
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