The Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Monday assured the public that after its assessment of the beach nourishment project in Manila Bay, the dolomite area as well as the geotubes and geotextiles installed as interventions for the project are all intact.
The dolomite sand has not been washed out and the dolomite pebbles were only pushed to the perimeter of the beach area, Secretary Roy Cimatu said.
While the normal high tide level is 1.3 meters, it rose to 1.5 to 1.6 meters because of the southwest monsoon that started last week and into the weekend, he said.
As a result, a huge amount of trash was swept by the waves and accumulated in the area, and that these were found to have come from the Pasig River and Cavite and from all the tributaries that flow into the bay.
Plastic cups, wrappers and styropor were among the trash collected.
A huge number of bamboo poles from fish pens, fish cages, and baklads/sapras were also washed ashore.
“In view of this, I have ordered Region 4A Executive Director Nilo Tamoria to conduct an inventory of all the fish pens, fish cages, baklads/sapras in Cavite, and to identify those with permits to operate. Legitimate operators will be required to repair their damaged fish pens and cages. On the other hand, those with no permits will be immediately demolished,” Cimatu said..
“Even prior to the start of the habagat or southwest monsoon, I have already directed the Regional Executive Directors of the National Capital Region, and Regions 3 and 4A to strictly implement proper solid waste management especially in their areas of jurisdiction,” he added.
“I wish to express my thanks and appreciation to all the volunteers, river rangers and estero rangers who are helping clean the Manila Baywalk and Baseco of all trash as part of the continuing rehabilitation of Manila Bay,” he said.
“We at the DENR believe that behavioral change is the key and ultimate solution to address the issue of solid waste management in the country,” he noted.