Onus on barangay leaders to conduct coastal cleanups

MANILA, Philippines – The majority of the barangays in Metro Manila have failed to conduct the mandated weekly cleanup of coastal areas, waterways and estuaries that flow into Manila Bay, according to a ranking official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

In an interview with the Inquirer on Wednesday, Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said initial reports showed that about 70 percent of local governments in the National Capital Region near Manila Bay failed to follow the DILG directive in conjunction with the bay’s rehabilitation program, which was launched earlier this year.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, in a memorandum issued in January, ordered the officials from 178 cities and municipalities and 5,714 barangays in the Manila Bay Watershed Area to organize cleanup drives every Saturday.

The local governments include those in Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Central Luzon.

Post-activity report

Under the directive, concerned barangays are required to submit a post-activity report to their city or municipal environmental officer every Tuesday.

The report should include information on the number of attendees, volume of collected wastes and the coverage area, as well as photo documentation.

Densing said officials faced administrative cases if found negligent in performing their duties.

“They will be given a notice to explain… If proven that they had been remiss of their duties, then we will file cases against them,” he said. “They have been warned.”

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu met last week with chairs of barangays with waterways that flow into Manila Bay to emphasize their role in the bay’s rehabilitation.

Cimatu said local government officials, particularly barangay chairs, were responsible for implementing environmental laws.

This Sunday, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will lead a cleanup of esteros and waterways, including the rivers in Tullahan, Pasig, Marikina, Malabon, San Juan and Parañaque.