LLDA closes down 4 establishments for polluting Manila Bay

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) has closed down the operations of four more establishments for dumping wastewater into the Manila Bay.

The LLDA issued cease and desist orders against Billion Building or Philippine Billion Real Estate Development Corp. (Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City), HK Sun Plaza (Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City), Tramway Bayview Buffet Restaurant (Roxas Boulevard corner Layug St., Pasay City), and D Circle Hotel (MH Del Pilar St., Malate, Manila).

They were found not to be complying with the Effluent Standards for “SB” waters based on its recent saturation activities in the Manila Bay area and results of laboratory analysis of wastewater samples.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said the Environment Compliance Certificates (ECC) and business permits of these establishments will be suspended.

“This is a cease and desist order meaning they have to stop operations until they have corrected their violations,” Cimatu said in an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the meeting of the Metro Manila Council at the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority office in Makati City on Thursday.

The LLDA also issued ex parte orders and notices of violation against Le Mirage De Malate – Builders 2000 Inc. (A. Mabini St., Malate, Manila), Smart Land Resources (A. Mabini St, Malate, Manila), and Malate Bayview Mansion (M. Adriatico St., Malate, Manila).

On the other hand, the LLDA issued Notice of Violation (Water Pollution Case) against Sogo Hotel – Quirino (Madre Ignacia St.

, Malate, Manila), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) (Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City), Peak Motors Phils Inc. (EDSA corner Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City), Makchang Korean Restaurant (Adriatico St.

, Malate, Manila), 2Blue Realty Corp.

(Madre Ignacia St., Malate, Manila), Cebuana Lhuiller Building (Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City), Robinsons Land Corp. (Robinsons Place Manila) (Pedro Gil corner Adriatico St.

, Ermita, Manila), and Rizal Park Hotel (South Drive TM Kalaw, Ermita, Manila).

Notices of violations were issued to Billion Building or Philippine Billion Real Estate Development Corp., Smart Land Resources; Malate Bayview Mansion, Makchang Korean Restaurant, 2Blue Realty Corp, Cebuana Lhuiller Building, and Summit Ice Inc. for violating provisions of Republic Act 4850 for failure to secure LLDA clearance and/or discharge permit to the authority.

The LLDA earlier issued cease and desist orders to Aristocrat Restaurant in Malate, Manila, Gloria Maris Bayside and SM Esplanade for violating environmental laws, which included the Clean Water Act.