Manila Mayor Isko Moreno with his wife, Diana Lynn Ditan-Domagos, and children at the newly renovated Manila Zoo. (Photo from the Manila Public Information Ofifice)
MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso hopes that the successful rehabilitation of the Manila Zo0 — cited in 2019 by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as one of Manila Bay’s “major pollutants” — will prod private companies to comply with environmental rules being implemented by government agencies to keep the bay clean, as directed by the Supreme Court.
Moreno made the remark at the soft opening of the nearly five-hectare New Manila Zoo — or more formally, the Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden — on Thursday, which coincided with the 125th anniversary of the execution of national hero Jose Rizal.
“So, I’m happy that the City of Manila through Manila Zoo is a compliant facility to the DENR’s requirement and to the [writ of] mandamus issued by the Supreme Court. So at least we can say to those private companies who have not followed [the ruling], comply now,” Moreno, speaking in a mix of English and Filipino, said in an interview after the flag-raising ceremony at the Manila City Hall.
“The City of Manila shut down the facility to fix it. And now it’s open again, but it’s following the regulations. I hope our countrymen will do the same if they have properties or business along the bay,” the 47-year-old local chief executive pointed out.
Mayor Isko Moreno and his family posing at two of the new attractions at the Manilal Zoo. (Photo from the Manila PIO)
On Dec. 18, 2008, the Supreme Court issued a writ of mandamus directing 13 government agencies to clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve Manila Bay and restore its condition to Class SB — a DENR classification for coastal areas and waters where the public may safely engage in bathing, swimming, skin diving, and similar recreational activities.
Following are the 13 agencies named in the Supreme Court ruling:
- DENR
- Department of the Interior and Local Government
- Department of Education
- Department of Health
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Public Works and Highways
- Department of Budget and Management
- Philippine Coast Guard
- Philippine National Police-Maritime Group
- Philippine Ports Authority
- Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
- Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System
- Local Water Utilities Administration
DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu previously ordered the management of establishments along Manila Bay to put up their own sewage treatment plants so that they would not discharge their waster water in esteros that could contaminate the bay.
Moreno cited places in Singapore like Boat Quay and Clarke Quay, which used to “really stink” but had been rehabilitated.
“This is a smaller scale [concern],” he said, referring to Manila Bay and its tributaries, which used to be boggy places that stank.
“When I was there the other night, I was surprised. Just a simple adaptation of technology could make the place more pleasant.”
As he previously stated, Moreno said the families of 1,300 construction workers at the zoo would be treated as VIP guests during the soft opening as a tribute to their hard work and ingenuity in creating a facility that is “at par with the world’s best zoological and botanical gardens.”
“I’m happy that they had jobs. Their work was not stopped [by the pandemic]. They had a source of income for two years. I want them to enjoy it. I want them to be able to share [the experience] with their children. I want their children to experience what my children can experience,” Moreno said, whose wife and children attended the soft opening.
Run by the city government, the more than 60-year-old zoo was one of the establishments inspected by the DENR after its officials admitted that they did not have sewage treatment plants.
Opened in July 1959, the zoo is located near the Estero de San Antonio Abad in Malate, Manila, which directly drains into Manila Bay.
The Manila Bay area spans eight provinces and 178 local government units in three regions of the country — Metro Mnila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon. Of the eight provinces, four are coastal (Bataan, Bulacan, Cavite and Pampanga) and four are non-coastal (Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Rizal, and Tarlac).
The drainage area of the bay covers 1,994 square kilometers — or 199,400 hectares — and its coastline extends to about 190 kilometers.
There are 17 principal river systems draining to Manila Bay. These are Angat River, Bocaue River, Maria River, Marilao River, Meycauayan, Meycauayan-Valenzuela River, Pasig River, Parañaque River, Imus River, Ylang-ylang River, Rio Grande, Cañas River, Obando River, Navotas-Malabon-Tinajeros-Tullahan River, Talisay River, Guagua River and Pampanga River.
The redeveloped facility will be a fulfillment of Moreno’s dream of competing with the world-famous Singapore Zoo, which has been a favorite attraction among local and foreign tourists.
Having undergone no major renovation since its opening, the new Manila Zoo now boasts of new facilities that include world-class animal enclosures — especially for Mali the elephant — that are surrounded by transparent glass where visitors can get up close to the animals. Elevated viewing decks around the enclosures are also in place.