The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) gained another ally in the battle to save Manila Bay and its tributaries from further environmental degradation.
DENR and the Aboitiz group signed at the DENR central office in Quezon City a memorandum of agreement (MOA) covering the parties’ three-year partnership on rehabilitating the San Juan River which flows through Quezon City, San Juan City, Manila and Mandaluyong City before emptying into the Pasig River that discharges into Manila Bay.
“Today, we take a solid step towards winning the battle for Manila Bay with the signing of the MOA,” DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said at the event.
Cimatu thanked Aboitiz for entering into the partnership despite the expense and difficulty in rehabilitating the San Juan River due to extent of its water pollution.
“The Aboitiz group responded by proposing to bankroll the clean-up and rehabilitation of the river,” the environment chief said, adding that the group will also donate materials and equipment for the undertaking.
The DENR, in turn, will conduct social preparation and cleanliness-focused information dissemination activities in communities located along the San Juan River.
The environment head added that the DENR will also monitor water quality of the San Juan River and assess the progress of its rehabilitation work.
Cimatu said there is urgency in rehabilitating San Juan River to prevent further degradation and mitigate the flow of pollutants into Manila Bay.
“DENR cannot accomplish the mission by itself.”
“Earlier this year, DENR accepted the formidable challenge to rehabilitate and restore coastal and marine ecosystems of Manila Bay but we knew then DENR cannot accomplish the mission by itself – we will need the support and participation of LGUs, communities, other government agencies, NGOs, private groups and industry,” Cimatu said.
Under the MOA, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV) will be the undertaking’s overall project manager.
He added the group’s Aboitiz Foundation Inc. will serve as overall director for implementation of the undertaking.
Aboitiz group’s public holding company is AEV which has major investments in power, banking and financial services, food, infrastructure and land.
AEV Chief Operating Officer Sabin Aboitiz and the foundation’s Chief Operating Officer Maribeth Marasigan also signed the MOA.
They thanked DENR for the opportunity to help save Manila Bay from further degradation.
“We’re honored to be entrusted with San Juan River,” Aboitiz said at the event, as he assured Aboitiz group’s commitment to help rehabilitate the river, noting this work is vital in saving Manila Bay.
“Manila Bay is a symbol of our country.”
“There’s no doubt Manila Bay is a symbol of our country,” he said.
Aboitiz group joined the battle for Manila Bay as he said everyone has a role in saving this water body.
According to AEV chief external relations officer David Jude Sta. Ana, bulk of rehabilitation activities for San Juan River will likely begin next year as planning for the work will start this year.
“We can’t put a peso figure on the work yet because we must still look into what needs to be done and what we can do,” Sta. Ana said.
He said Aboitiz group will be working with DENR and the concerned communities to improve the water quality of the San Juan River.
Among DENR’s present corporate allies in the battle for Manila Bay are conglomerate San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and integrated property developer SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPH).
SMC has committed to help rehabilitate Tullahan-Tinajeros River.
SMPH meanwhile pledged to help reduce pollution in the Estero de Tripa de Gallina and in the Paranaque River.
Those three waterways are tributaries of Manila Bay, noted the DENR.
The partnership to rehabilitate the San Juan River is not a first for the DENR and the Aboitiz group.
Both parties have earlier renewed the partnership to sustain ecological balance through the planting of 9 million trees by the end of 2020, according to the Aboitiz group.
Aboitiz group is also supporting the rehabilitation of top tourist destination Boracay Island by adopting and reviving four wetlands in the area.