DENR eyes Morong beach for next clean up

MORONG, Bataan – After the partial reopening of Boracay Island after a partial rehabilitation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is now setting its sights on this coastal town as its next target for a massive coastal cleanup, a top DENR official here revealed Monday.

DENR Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Raul H. Mamac disclosed that DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu, himself, had told him that the next target of a massive cleanup will be the coastal area of Morong town.

Mamac said this was relayed to him in the recent New Year’s call by department heads and key officials with Cimatu.

"Our secretary mentioned and identified Morong Beach as one of the beach areas in Region 3 to be the next rehabilitation target after Boracay," said Mamac.

"Nagpeprepare na kami ng action plans and I already coordinated with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and (Morong) Mayor Cynthia Estanislao yesterday about the issue. Malaking issue ito kaya we need the media's support and, of course, (that of) our governor Abet Garcia," said Mamac.

Mamac pointed out that Bataan Bay, which is located in the western portion of Manila Bay, was one of the areas classified by Cimatu as among the areas located in Manila Bay that would need a massive cleanup.

The other areas are the waters off Metro Manila, Cavite and Bulacan.

"Boracay has no industries dumping wastes into the sea, so it was easier to clean it up. But if the public will support us and the government agencies in the cleanup of Manila Bay, then we can do it," pointed out Mamac, who was among the DENR officials who took part in the six-month Boracay cleanup.