MMDA hauls 45 tons of garbage in Manila Bay cleanup

For its first target, the Manila Bay rehabilitation program hopes to bring down the water’s fecal coliform levels. (Photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has collected more than 45 tons of garbage in its Manila Bay cleanup drive.

According to the data of the MMDA released Sunday, a total of 45.59 tons of garbage — filling up 11 garbage trucks — were collected in the cleanup.

About 5,000 people joined the solidarity walk along the Manila Baywalk area to mark the start of the project to restore the heavily polluted bay to its former glory.

The project will cost P42.95 billion in the next three years.

Among those who attended the event were Environmental Secretary Roy Cimatu, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, and Public Works Secretary Mark Villar.

READ: Modern-day ‘Battle for Manila Bay’ starts

Local government units and barangays along the Manila Bay Watershed Area were also urged to help in the rehabilitation. /atm

READ: DILG orders LGUs, barangays to help in Manila Bay clean-up drive