‘LGUs violating environmental laws’

MORE than 50 percent of local government units (LGUs) surrounding Manila Bay were not complying with environmental laws, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Thursday.

A total of 95 or 53 percent of the 178 LGUs failed to hit indicators gauging compliance with environmental laws, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement.

Based on data from the 2018 Regional Inter- Agency Committee table assessments and on- site inspections, the DILG said 56 of these LGUs were from Central Luzon, 37 were from Calabarzon ( Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), and two were from the National Capital Region.

Sixteen LGUs with the “worst problems” would be given priority by the DILG, Año said.

“There were decades’ worth of shortcomings that led to the problems of Manila Bay, but we are not here to point fingers anymore. We, through the directive of the President ( Rodrigo Duterte), are here to bring back the bay to its former glory and we need all LGUs to do their part,” Año said.

The DILG, he added, could extend help to these LGUs by providing capacity development, workshops, and coaching and mentoring toward creating programs in line with environmental laws.

Año also warned LGUs that they would face sanctions if they refused to cooperate in the rehabilitation of Manila Bay.

“We can file cases against them with the Ombudsman or recommend disciplinary action to the President if warranted. So, we challenge all LGUs to shape up. We need them to fight and win the Battle for Manila Bay,” he said.

Año said the department would continue monitoring LGUs to ensure that they were complying with environmental laws for the rehabilitation and preservation of Manila Bay.