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Manila Bay rehab may take years to complete, expert says

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Davinci Maru, ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1394418" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>MANILA - The proposed massive cleanup of the heavily polluted Manila Bay is a herculean task that could take years to complete, a noted architect and urban planner said Monday.</p><p>Speaking to &quot;Bandila sa DZMM,&quot; Felino &quot;Jun&quot; Palafox Jr. said the project must be reviewed properly and needs all hands on deck.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yung catchment area ng Manila Bay is 1,700,000 hectares. You can fit in 26 Singapores or 1,700 Boracays, ganun ang magnitude niyan. Hindi lang dapat &#x27;yung government agencies &#x27;yung involved, all the provinces around it,&quot; he said.</p><p>To restore Manila Bay to its former glory, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/01/09/19/denr-to-start-manila-bay-rehab-this-month" target="_blank">will start rehabilitating</a> the capital&#x27;s main harbor end of January. Revenue from the road users&#x27; tax, some P47 billion, is <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/01/08/19/road-users-tax-collections-eyed-for-manila-bay-rehabilitation-panelo" target="_blank">eyed by government</a> to fund the project. </p><p>If all goes according to plan, Palafox said the cleanup could take at least 4 years. </p><p>Some parts of the 190 kilometer-coastline could be swum by December, he added.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/09/19/businesses-releasing-enormous-volume-of-untreated-wastewater-into-manila-bay-denr">Businesses dumping untreated wastewater into Manila Bay: DENR</a></li></ul><p>Results of a water sampling in the area showed that Manila Bay&#x27;s average fecal coliform level was at 330 million most probable number (mpn), 3.3 million times above the standard 100 mpn that is ideal for swimming.</p><p>Informal settlers living along the bay&#x27;s shores, Palafox said, must also be relocated during the cleanup.</p><p>&quot;Dapat talaga gumawa ng promenades along the Manila Bay front, dapat mga 50 meters ang setback. Along Pasig River, 10 meters. Along the esteros,mga 3 1/2 half meters. Dapat masunod yan,&quot; he said.</p><p>Some 40,000 families were <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/13/19/40000-pamilyang-informal-settlers-balak-i-relocate-kasabay-ng-manila-bay-rehab" target="_blank">identified by DENR</a> as the major contributor of the waters&#x27; pollution. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/14/19/reclamation-projects-may-threaten-manila-bay-warns-green-group">Reclamation projects may threaten Manila Bay, warns green group</a></li></ul><p>Palafox also said large-scale reclamation projects planned for Manila Bay must be studied properly.</p><p>The Solar City Reclamation Project will cover some 148 hectares, while the Waterfront City Reclamation Project will cover around 318 hectares in the polluted bay. </p><p>Red tape and analysis paralysis or overthinking a situation, he said, could become big stumbling blocks to the rehabilitation.</p><p>&quot;People first or social equity, then environment, then we can talk about profits,&quot; Palafox said.</p><p>The proposed cleanup came about 3 months after Boracay Island <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/10/26/18/rejuvenated-boracay-reopens-with-clear-waters-quiet-beaches" target="_blank">underwent</a> a 6-month rehabilitation. </p>

<p>MANILA - The proposed massive cleanup of the heavily polluted Manila Bay is a herculean task that could take years to complete, a noted architect and urban planner said Monday.<br /> </p>

MANILA - The proposed massive cleanup of the heavily polluted Manila Bay is a herculean task that could take years to complete, a noted architect and urban planner said Monday.

Manila Bay rehab may take years to complete, expert says

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Manila Bay rehab may take years to complete, expert says

Davinci Maru,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 15, 2019 02:08 AM PHT

Read More:

Bandila

DZMM

Teleradyo

Felino Palafox

Manila Bay

rehabilitation

cleanup

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