|
Post by westernaus on Mar 3, 2017 23:28:04 GMT 8
Maybe CFI should look at billing the City of Manila for picking up and disposing the City of Manila's trash . After all Corregidor Island attracts a lot of visitors who usually spend a couple of days or weeks in Manila .
Any Thoughts Any body .
(EXO comment - I have long wondered why CFI is not more activist about the problem, perhaps there may be some concern of retribution.)
|
|
|
Post by EXO on Mar 4, 2017 7:57:20 GMT 8
Reposted from e-mail from Peter Parsons to Karl Welteke. For those who are unaware, Peter Parsons swam around most of Corregidor on 1 March 2014, at the age of 78.
____________________ Thanks, Karl for bringing up my favorite subject once again. But this is only a small part of the problem. Had my only marine enemy been merely tons of plastic and rubber, I would have survived my Corregidor swim happily. But the more invisible problem is the fecal coliform count up in the millions. This means that Manila Bay is a cesspool. It is literally full of nuts. It was this that nearly killed me. Have you ever heard one comment by any govt officials directed to cleaning up this enormous sewage Bay? And the new eco minister Gina Lopez was recently in charge of cleaning up the esteros. They are now even worse off than before her campaign. BTW--I have told her personally that if she cleaned up the Bay I would swim from Manila to Corregidor. Her response was rather complicated and also fairly insulting. Sorry, pal, the future of this problem looks grim. Banzai. Peter
|
|
|
Post by Karl Welteke on Aug 27, 2017 18:07:54 GMT 8
Corregidor is free of Trash, mostly 10th Aug. 2017 A friend and I visited Corregidor this date! Za101. Corregidor Northshore free of trash. Thank you for the SW Monsoon Winds, during the rainy season the SW wind drives the trash back to the Manila and Bulacan shores where it comes from. Right now around the north shore boat landing area it is clean! Clean like a whistle! Za102. Corregidor Northshore free of trash zoomed-in. Thank you for the SW Monsoon Winds, during the rainy season the SW wind drives the trash back to the Manila and Bulacan shores where it comes from. This can be clearly seen even when I zoom in and have a closer look. It is all gone! Maybe, sadly some is left on the bottom.
|
|
|
Post by EXO on Jan 9, 2019 12:17:11 GMT 8
ARTICLE: The cleaning up of Manila Bay starts now:
SHOOTING STRAIGHT Bobit S. Avila (The Philippine Star) - January 8, 2019 The first week of the New Year 2019 has passed and things are happening fast like the text I got from my dear friend, Commodore Robert “Bobby” Joseph who text me last Friday this message “I am glad that Sec. Roy Cimatu has decided once and for all to clean up Manila Bay in One Year! The Manila Bay Yacht Club (MYC) and the Rotary Club of Manila is supporting the project of Sec. Cimatu. Come Jan. 15th local government officials will meet at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to listen to Sec. Cimatu’s plans and strategies. It is expected that more organizations will join this development and building owners are expected to have their sewage treatment plants installed immediately. Thank you Chief of the DENR to be the first serious leader to make this happen.” I love to hear good news in the first week of January. Actually this already materialized way back in 2013 when the Supreme Court (SC) supported the call to have the Manila Bay waters cleaned up. If you recall, it was on December 18, 2008, when the Supreme Court issued the mandamus directing 13 government agencies – DENR, Metro Manila Development Authority; Departments of Environment and Natural Resources; Education; Health; Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries; Public Works and Highways; Budget and Management; Interior and Local Government; Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police-Maritime Group, Philippine Ports Authority, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, and Local Water Utilities Administration – to clean up, rehabilitate and preserve Manila Bay in their different capacities to clean up the Manila Bay. But somehow because the Aquino government’s wasn’t serious about anything, years passed and no one cared about Manila Bay until we wrote to challenge Sir Bobby Joseph as the MYC made him their Commodore. But the cleaning up of Manila Bay can really be done if the top leaders of the national government make it their advocacy. To be totally honest about it… no one thought that Pres. Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte would be serious in his call to clean up the “Cesspool” in the fable isle of Boracay… but the President showed us that he had the political will to do things though impossible by many and he did it. Six months later Boracay has reopened, not a hundred percent, but at least it is no longer the cesspool that it once was. The DENR is aiming to rehabilitate the heavily-polluted Manila Bay and eventually make it fit for swimming once again. DENR Secretary Cimatu pointed out “The current level now is 330 million MPN. The objective is to bring it to a level, which it can be swimmable. The coliform level must be less than 100 mpn.” MPN refers to most probable number of fecal coliform bacteria per 100 milliliter. So this is the marching orders of the DENR Secretary starting in the month of January. Sec. Cimatu said the DENR’s initiative to rehabilitate the Manila Bay is in accordance with the writ of continuing mandamus to clean up the body of water issued a decade ago. Again, I’d like to point out that the SC issued that mandamus to 13 government agencies in the Year 2008 that is 11 years ago that these government agencies defied our SC. Make me wonder why the SC did not sanction these agencies that willfully defied an SC order? Perhaps my good friend, Atty. Antonio Oposa did not file any cases against these agencies, but I would like to believe that their defiance had nothing to do with corruption; rather it is simply common government incompetence that made them defy the SC! Perhaps this time around, newly appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Lucas Bersamin would come up with a new set of rules or penalties for agencies that refuse a Supreme Court order. Meanwhile, unlike Boracay which has numerous resorts that were in trouble… in Manila Bay there are no resorts except for a few that could be in trouble. But this Jan. 15th meeting with the Local Government officials and the DENR someone should tell them that there are a lot of great tourism projects that could be created if the waters of Manila Bay would be cleaned. One of them is the coming of cruise ships into Manila because there are enough business destinations for tourists to come and visit. Sure people may soon be able to swim in Manila Bay, but it should be on a well-guarded place or destination. Then there are tourist boats that can bring tourists to place like Cavite and the site of the famous Battle of Manila Bay…a tourism project that was never made because the Manila Bay just smell like a huge toilet. We should not forget that Manila Bay is a historical destination but realize that it can never be a tourism destination for as long as the national government doesn’t spearhead this clean up drive… best of all, we have a Pres. Duterte who has the political will to do this! * * * Read more at www.philstar.com/opinion/2019/01/08/1883135/cleaning-manila-bay-starts-now#3ewWlxmwMlHQMS0i.99
|
|
|
Post by EXO on Jan 9, 2019 12:20:59 GMT 8
DENR to be more aggressive on implementing environmental laws
Louise Maureen Simeon (The Philippine Star) - January 7, 2019 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has committed to be more aggressive in the enforcement of environmental laws this year to sustain the momentum after the Boracay Island rehabilitation. “This year, I hope to send a strong message to environmental offenders and to the public of our seriousness in implementing and enforcing environmental laws, rules and regulations,” Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said. The six-month rehabilitation of the famous tourist destination in the country serves as the “center piece of 2018 accomplishments” of DENR and it aims to achieve more this year. “In Boracay, our mettle was put to test. We not only passed that test, but also carried over the momentum to other prime ecotourism destinations like El Nido and Coron in Palawan, Panglao Island in Bohol, and Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro,” Cimatu said. He said that Boracay’s success had spawned demands for replication, prompting the DENR to have the rehabilitation of Manila Bay as its “next big target.” The Manila Bay rehabilitation calls for a change in approach considering that its water quality has not improved despite a Supreme Court mandamus for its cleanup issued a decade ago. “We are putting up a Manila Bay command center, we will get the local government units more involved, and we will be more aggressive in enforcing environmental laws, particularly against the discharge of untreated wastewater into the bay,” Cimatu said. Apart from the Boracay rehabilitation, the DENR, through the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), was also successful in enforcing the Clean Water Act in other parts of the country last year. The NWRB closed 486 commercial establishments illegally operating deep wells, as well as slapping beverage giant Pepsi Cola Products Inc. with an P11.8 million-fine for operating six deep wells in Muntinlupa City without the necessary permits. * * * Read more at www.philstar.com/business/2019/01/07/1882807/denr-be-more-aggressive-implementing-environmental-laws#hyafOCipWiBgb0WZ.99
|
|
|
Post by westernaus on Jan 9, 2019 15:26:34 GMT 8
Thanks EXO for that very interesting information . Hopefully this will be the start of something positive and hopefully it doesn't loose momentum , like a lot of things seem to do in the Philippines . Regards Westernaus.
|
|
|
Post by EXO on Jan 31, 2019 9:20:42 GMT 8
We of the International Corregidor Community (the ICC?) have an interest in how the efforts to reduce the crap that arrives on its shores from the Malina Bay are going. There have been a few pretty pictures of Manila Bay hitting the news and FB pages lately, supporting the cleaning of the waters adjacent to Roxas Blvd. If you happen to be looking at a pretty picture of Manila Bay, and there have been a bunch lately - generally not far from the smiling dial of a political face, I say that it is only propaganda, a BS photo opportunity, and that you should not be fooled by anything less than a current fecal coliform count. Whilst efforts to remove the result of floating garbage are commendable, the approach to the hygiene of Manila Bay is pre-Pasteur, an attitude that if you cannot see obvious filth, there is no filth there. This is adequate for politicians. It is commendable that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has expressed concern over the high level of fecal coliform bacteria in Manila Bay. Based on their recent tests, they admit that fecal and coliform level in Manila Bay has reached 1.9 billion most probable number (MPN). This means that Manila Bay is severely polluted and the reason, the DENR claims, is the irresponsible waste disposal of more than 2,000 informal settlers and other establishments surrounding it and directly disposing their waste materials to the Bay. Only 2,000? I have seen estimates of ten times that! Undersecretary Martin Diño of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) blamed the condition of Manila Bay to the negligence of heads of barangays and mayors supposedly responsible for the implementation of environmental laws. Well done, Martin, I'm with you there. Meanwhile, Buhay Party list Rep. Lito Atienza blames Manila Water and Maynila as contributors to the pollution in Manila Bay. He says the two concessionaires still failed to establishment their respective treatment plants when in fact they have been collecting 20% charge from consumers for the construction of the said facilities. We of the ICC are with you on the ungovernable conduct of concessionaires charging what they like, and not returning value to the stakeholders. Meanwhile, it looks to me like the INQUIRER is attempting to stack the deck. Have a gander at this: Current figure 330 Million? What about the DENR admitting it is 1.9 Billion? Who's a person to believe? And worse, did you catch that "100 MPN per 100 ml is acceptable" ? In whose universe? Gee, I wouldn't want to go swimming in the INQUIRER's swimming pool if 100 MPN per 100 ml was acceptable. We're not talking items in suspension here, we're talking reproducing clumps of biological matter. So nice photos of the shoreline and the setting sun over the waters are just FAKE NEWS.
|
|
|
Post by EXO on Jan 31, 2019 10:25:53 GMT 8
I have received the following from Peter Parsons, who is uniquely qualified to speak of the waters around Corregidor:Pp
|
|
|
Post by EXO on Aug 2, 2019 19:30:01 GMT 8
Two good reasons that Corregidor might not be a considered a place for tourism skindiving.
ARTICLE 1
Fecal coliform bacterial content in Manila Bay hits 1.9 billion – DENR by Marje Pelayo | Posted on Monday, January 14th, 2019
QUEZON CITY, Philippines —The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) expressed concern over the high level of fecal coliform bacteria in Manila Bay.
Based on the recent test conducted by the agency, the fecal and coliform level in Manila Bay has reached 1.9 billion most probable number (MPN).
The level of fecal coliform bacteria indicates the water has been contaminated with fecal discharge of man or other animals.
Of all eleven rivers connected to Manila Bay, two tested positive of containing over two billion fecal coliform. These are the Balut area in Tondo and the Estero de San Antonio de Abad.
Other rivers also contain about 15 to 700 million mpn, according to the DENR.
This level is way higher than the 270 mpn target which the agency wants to achieve by December 2019.
This means that Manila Bay is severely polluted and the reason, the DENR claims, is the irresponsible waste disposal of more than 2,000 informal settlers and other establishments surrounding it and directly disposing their waste materials to the Bay.
Undersecretary Martin Diño of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) blamed the condition of Manila Bay to the negligence of heads of barangays and mayors supposedly responsible for the implementation of environmental laws.
In fact, Diño said, they are about to file charges against at least two mayors and over 100 heads of barangays in Metro Manila in the coming days.
“Ngayon ang gagawin namin sa kanila kung hindi pa rin sila mag-comply this time we will file cases against them,” Diño said.
Meanwhile, Buhay Party list Rep. Lito Atienza blamed Manila Water and Maynila as contributors to the pollution in Manila Bay.
He said the two concessionaires still failed to establishment their respective treatment plants when in fact they have been collecting 20% charge from consumers for the construction of the said facilities.
Diño wants an investigation on the matter.
“This time alamin natin kung saan napunta ang pera na iyan at ang dalawang concessionaire na ito,” Diño said. – Marje Pelayo (with reports from Grace Casin)
ARTICLE 2
Fecal coliform levels in Manila Bay still high – DENR Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu says the government has not yet fully cleaned Manila Bay, and swimming there could lead to illnesses
Anna Gabriela A. Mogato Published 4:55 PM, February 06, 2019 Updated 6:11 PM, February 06, 2019
SWIMMERS BEWARE. Splashing around in Manila Bay's waters can lead to a number of illnesses as fecal coliform levels are still way above the safe levels.
MANILA, Philippines – Don't be so quick to dive into Manila Bay as fecal coliform bacteria levels in its waters are still considered high, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said on Wednesday, February 6.
Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said during the Kapihan sa Manila at Cafe Adriatico, that the government has not yet allowed the public to swim in Manila Bay even after the cleanup drive last January 27.
This comes after photos of locals swimming in the bay along Roxas Boulevard circulated days ago.
"Bathing in Manila Bay can expose people to high levels of fecal coliform bacteria, which could increase their chances of developing illnesses," Cimatu was quoted as saying in a statement.
Swimming in waters with high fecal coliform bacteria levels can lead to various diseases such as typhoid fever, hepatitis, gastroenteritis, and dysentery.
"We have not yet gotten rid of pollutants such as those from untreated wastewater being discharged into the bay, so we strongly advise the public, especially children, to refrain from swimming in the bay for now," Cimatu said.
Bacteria levels taken from the Rajah Soliman outfall – one of the 8 water quality monitoring stations of the DENR – reached 35 million most probable number (mpn) for every 100 milliliters (ml) as of January 28.
This is the highest count out of all the stations, followed by the Padre Faura drainage outfall which registered a count of 7.9 million mpn per 100 ml.
All 8 stations are above the safe level of 100 mpn per 100 ml. (READ: Manila Bay not yet safe for swimming – DOH)
Prior to the cleanup, the DENR said bacteria levels in Manila Bay reached up to 330 million mpn per 100 ml.
The government was tasked to bring Manila Bay back to Class SB as early as 2008, which means that the water can be used for recreational purposes.
Beyond the cleanup drive
Cimatu also vowed to go after erring businesses located along Manila Bay which do not have their own sewage treatment facilities.
"No establishment that is polluting Manila Bay will be spared from the crackdown. We will make sure all establishments will go through inspection and the violators will have to pay the price for polluting the environment," he said.
The Laguna Lake Development Authority already closed 4 establishments found to be dumping untreated wastewater: Billion Building, HK Sun Plaza, Tramway Bayview Buffet Restaurant in Pasay City, and D Circle Hotel.
This is aside from 13 notices of violations (NOVs), 8 cease and desist orders (CDOs), and 4 ex-parte orders to establishments violating Republic Act No. 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 prior to the cleanup.
The DENR also served 265 NOVs to businesses located in Metro Manila, 45 NOVs to establishments in Calabarzon, and 21 CDOs in Central Luzon for environmental violations.
"This is just the initial salvo as inspection of establishments for their compliance goes full swing not only here in Metro Manila, but also in the provinces that affect the water quality of Manila Bay," Cimatu said. – Rappler.com
|
|