The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), together with partner government agencies, local government units, and community members, has strengthened efforts to rehabilitate Manila Bay and its waterways through a large-scale clean-up drive which highlights the importance of collaboration and community participation in environmental protection.
DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo underscored that the initiative demonstrates the agency’s commitment to environmental protection and community participation.
“This is more than a one-day activity. It is part of a continuing mission to protect our coastal ecosystems and ensure a cleaner, greener future for our communities,” he said.
Under the initiative, the Department of Labor and Employment mobilized about 180 workers through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or TUPAD program to assist in clearing rivers, esteros, and coastal areas of waste.
Meanwhile, the DENR deployed 220 river rangers to conduct monitoring and clean-up activities in waterways across Pampanga’s 4th District.
The activity was carried out in partnership with the Philippine Coast Guard, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Office of Pampanga 4th District Representative Anna York Bondoc.
Aside from government agencies, the drive also gained support from the local government units, volunteers, and community members, showcasing a whole-of-community approach to environmental protection and waterway rehabilitation.
Pablo emphasized that such collaboration helps address solid waste pollution and improve waterways that drain into Manila Bay.
Organized under a similar campaign that was conducted in 2024, the ongoing clean-up activities have resulted in the collection of more than 1,180 kilograms of waste from rivers, esteros, and other waterways in Pampanga.
Supporting the government’s environmental protection and waterway rehabilitation initiatives under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., this seeks to contribute to better water quality, reduced flood risks, and a cleaner environment for local communities. (CLJD/AJRR, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)