MALOLOS, Bulacan, Sept. 1 – Officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here on Wednesday assured local government units (LGUs) of swift action against environmental law violators.
Environment Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio told a group of LGU officials and local media people here the DENR Region 3 office has already padlocked some erring tannery plants and poultries who have been reportedly polluting Marilao River.
Ignacio was saddened to hear that experts have declared the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River “biologically dead” and is part of “The World’s 30 Most Polluted Places in the Developing World” drawn up by New York-based environmental think-tank Blacksmith Institute.
The DENR official said they have already made more measures to go after the enemies of the environment such as the launching of the Green Line Hotline and Text Facility Project here.
Ignacio said the Green Line project in Bulacan would be a test case for other areas in the Philippines that have polluted rivers.
“Other areas in the country are now looking at Bulacan and will most likely adopt the best practices here, so the projects here will be blazing a trail,” he said during the dialogue with the Bulacan LGU officials.
Launch ceremonies will be attended by officials of DENR, the provincial government of Bulacan, Globe Telecommunications, Sony Ericsson and Blacksmith Institute.
The 55-kilometer long (MMO) River System is an important water resource in Bulacan. It serves as a transport route, source of irrigation for fishponds and a source of livelihood and food for fisherfolk and community members in the area.
DENR reported that MMO is also considered a hotspot for heavy metal pollution and was considered one of the dirtiest rivers in the world because of the pollution’s potential health risks to human health.
Both small-scale industries such as tanneries, gold smelting, pyrotechnics, piggeries and large-scale industries in manufacturing and electroplating, among others are located along the river system that directly discharges untreated wastes to the river. Household wastes also find its way to the river.
In May 2008, the MMO Water Quality Management Board was established under Republic Act 9275, or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004.
The MMO WQMA is composed of seven municipalities and cities—Meycauayan, Marilao, Obando, San Jose Del Monte, Sta. Maria in Bulacan and the cities of Caloocan and Valenzuela.
Through the MMO WQMA Board, various clean-up efforts were implemented, including aggressive solid waste management by local governments and intensified monitoring of factories and plants operating in the vicinity of the river’s banks.
Blacksmith Institute has also conducted several baseline studies, pilot testing of cost-effective technologies for small-scale industries such as tanneries, gold smelting and piggeries, training for health surveillance and IEC campaigns were also conducted.
JICA also provided funds and technical assistance in the formation of the MMO WQMA and is now facilitating the development of the 10-year action plan of the MMO WQMA including financial guidelines. (PNA) LAP/JCA