Clark to host first Area-Based Management Summit for cleaner Manila Bay

Various stakeholders in Central Luzon will converge in Clark Freeport Zone on December 14 for the 1st Area-Based Management (ABM) Summit meant to bring back the former glory of the Manila Bay.

“The ABM Summit seeks to show the efforts of national government agencies and concerned local government units in response to the order of the Supreme Court to bring back Manila Bay and its waters to Class SB level, making it fit for swimming, skin diving and other forms of contact recreation,” Pampanga Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office Head Art Punsalan sai d.

Themed “Synergy of Central Luzon Leaders Envisioning a Cleaner Manila Bay”, the Area-Based approach will concentrate on major interventions per river system that drains into the Manila Bay namely Pampanga River Basin, Marilao-MeycauayanObando River System, and Talisay River.

The Manila Bay area in Central Luzon covers 96 towns and cities in five provinces. They include Abucay, Bagac, Bal an ga, Dinalupihan, Hermosa, Limay, Mariveles, Morong, Orani, Orion, Pilar and Samal in Bataan. Also, Aliaga, Bongabon, Cabanatuan, Cabiao, Carranglan, Cuyapo, Gapan, Gabaldon, Gen. Mamerto Natividad, General Tinio, Guimba, Jaen, Laur, Licab, Llanera, Lupao, Nampicuan, Pal ayan, Pantabangan, Penaranda, Quezon, Rizal, San Antonio, San Isidro, San Jose, San Leonardo, Santa Rosa, Santo Domingo, Munoz, Talavera, Talugtug, and Zaragoza in Nueva Ecija.

In Bulacan, it covers Angat, Balagtas, Baliuag, Bocaue, Bulacan, Bustos, Calumpit, Dona Remedios Trinidad, Guiguinto, Hagonoy, Malolos City, Marilao, Meycauayan City, Norzagaray, Obando, Pandi, Paombong, Plaridel, Pulilan, San Ildefonso, San Jose del Monte, San Miguel, San Rafael, and Santa Maria.

Moreover, the Pampanga area includes Angeles, Apalit, Arayat, Bacolor, Candaba, San Fernando, Floridablanca, Guagua, Lubao, Mabalacat, Macabebe, Magalang, Masantol, Mexico, Minalin, Porac, San Luis, San Simon, Santo Tomas, Sasmuan, Sta. Rita and Sta. Ana.

And lastly, those covered in Tarlac are Capas, Concepcion, La Paz, Victoria, Bamban and Tarlac City.