Ground was broken by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the construction of a sewage treatment plant (STP) and wastewater interceptor in Pasay City that will help address the problem of wastewater discharge that contributes to the pollution in Manila Bay.
In the activity, DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said the STP — to be constructed in four months adjacent to the Libertad Pumping Station — is the second to be installed in partnership with the MMDA. The first one is located along Roxas Boulevard, launched last year.
“The sewage treatment plant in the Baywalk area in partnership with MMDA now shows water quality results as low as 1.8 mpn (most probable number) per 100 ml. This level is most certainly within the fecal coliform standard of 200 mpn per 100 ml,” Cimatu said.
“We proudly support another project with the MMDA that also promises to give the best results.”
“We proudly support another project with the MMDA that also promises to give the best results,” the environment chief added. “With this STP, no untreated wastewater from Tripa De Gallina and Libertad Pumping Station will flow into the Manila Bay.”
While the DENR will fund the STP’s construction, the MMDA will be in charge of the maintenance and operations of the sewage treatment plant.
MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos said the Libertad Sewage Treatment Plant is one of the government’s measures being undertaken as part of the Manila Bay Cleanup program that will help improve the quality of water being discharged to the bay.
“The STP is capable of treating 10 million liters of waste water per day.”
“This is a good partnership between the DENR and the MMDA. The STP is capable of treating 10 million liters of wastewater per day from the retarding pond of the Libertad Pumping Station before being discharged to Manila Bay,” Abalos explained.
For their part, Pasay City District Rep. Antonino Calixto and City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano, who attended the event, expressed gratefulness to Cimatu and Abalos for the establishment of STP that will rehabilitate, restore, and maintain the historic Manila Bay.
Pursuant to the Writ of Continuing Mandamus issued by the Supreme Court for the Manila Bay, President Rodrigo Duterte issued Administrative Order No. 16 series of 2019, entitled “Expediting the Rehabilitation and Restoration of the Coastal and Marine Ecosystem of the Manila Bay and Creating the Manila Bay Task Force” that implemented the ongoing clean-up activities within South Manila area jointly undertaken by DENR, MMDA and DPWH.
These activities include dredging of the Manila Bay, esteros (creeks) desilting of drainage mains, and drainage of laterals that directly discharge into the bay.
