Gov’t issues violation notices to Manila Bay polluters

FILE: BATTLE FOR MANILA BAY. The Manila Bay Interagency Task Force, led by Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, supervises the first day of the clean-up program to rehabilitate Manila Bay, at the Manila Yacht Club in Roxas Boulevard on Sunday (Jan. 27, 2019). Various sectors joined the first phase of the interagency effort to bring back the pristine waters of Manila Bay. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA — The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) on Sunday issued notices of violation to a number of establishments causing pollution at Manila Bay.

LLDA issued a cease and desist order (CDO) to Aristocrat restaurant in Malate, Manila, Gloria Maris Bayside and SM Esplanade for violating environmental laws, which included the Clean Water Act.

In an interview with reporters during a surprise inspection at the bayside, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said the establishments failed in the coliform level test — an indication of their contribution to the current state of the bay.

“Magkakaroon ng suspension (There will be suspension) of ECC (environmental compliance certificate), there will be suspension of Mayor’s permit. Suspension of both will lead to automatic closure of sewerage treatment plant,” he said.

Antipoda said the LLDA will close the water discharge of the establishments violating the law, as he also clarified that the actual establishments will not be closed immediately.

“So, saan ka maghahanap ng pagdi-disposan ng tubig mo? Paano ka magne-negosyo? Hahanap ka ng magsi-sipsip at napakamahal noon kaya ang mangyayari ikaw na mismo isasara mo na ang establishment mo (where will you dispose your water? How will your business run? You’ll look for siphoning services and that’s very expensive so you’ll finally decide to close your establishment), we go through the process, they’re given time to correct their errors,” he added.

LLDA General Manager Jaime Medina said the three main violators could be given a maximum of PHP200,000 fine per day.

“Iyon po ang sa tatlo ay ipe-penalize na natin at doon po sa anim na ang ilan ay hotels na may notice of violation, ay ipapatawag sa technical conference at e-explain nila, iyong CDO kasi ibig sabihin ongoing na iyan eh (We will already penalize the three and the other six, some of them are hotels with notice of violation, they will be summoned to a technical conference and they need to explain) their remedial measures to correct their lapses,” he said in a press briefing after the inspection.

LLDA Resource Management and Development Manager Adelina Santos-Borja said the establishments failed the basic parameters, like the PH level which harm creatures inhabiting the bay, total suspended solids in the form of plastic trash, biochemical oxygen demand which indicates the presence of rotting garbage in the bay, and oil deposits which seal the bay water.

“Ang fecal coliform level galing sa tao at hayop ay mataas din, paano nila pabababain ang coliform levels? Iyong mga nabigyan ng notices of violation ay talagang mataas ang levels nito at hindi nila naabot ang (And the fecal coliform from humans and animals level is also high, how are they going to bring down these levels? Those which were given the notices of violation really have high levels of this and they weren’t able to meet the) standards,” she added.

Meanwhile, Cimatu said the Manila Bay cleanup has no timeline.

“May mga areas diyan na may ibang circumstance ng pagbibigay ng dumi sa mga estero leading to Manila Bay. Mayroong malilinisan agad pero may ibang aabuting ng ilang buwan (There are areas which have different circumstances of contributing pollution to waterways leading to Manila Bay. Some can be cleaned immediately while some might take months),” he said.