DENR- EMB holds annual Metro Manila forum for ‘estero’ partners

• Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/231443517304/denr--emb-holds-annual-metro-manila-forum-for-estero-partners
• Wednesday, September 30, 2015

(DENR/RJB/SDL/PIA-NCR)

QUEZON CITY, Sept. 30 (PIA)--Hundreds of barangay officials, community leaders, representatives from national and local governments, academe, civil society and private sector partners gathered to share experiences and discuss plans on the rehabilitation of Metro Manila’s waterways.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) led the 2015 Metro Manila Adopt-an-Estero Partners Forum held at the Sulo Riviera Hotel in Quezon City on September 29-30, 2015.

Since 2011, the DENR-EMB has been convening partners from all over Metro Manila to continuously engage them in the clean-up and rehabilitation of the adopted esteros in Metro Manila.

According to DENR Assistant Secretary, and Concurrent Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Director Juan Miguel there are about 346 water bodies being adopted nationwide, of which 153 water bodies have shown improvements either in their Dissolved Oxygen and Biochemical Oxygen Demand levels.

“Both of these parameters being monitored by the EMB are very essential in maintaining the quality of our waters and sustaining aquatic life,” Miguel added.

The forum seeks to assess the multi-stakeholder program of the previous year and to firm up their action plans for the coming year.

Under the Adopt-an-Estero/Water Body Program, private sector partners undertake environmental activities aimed at improving the quality of the esteros they adopted.

These activities may include community mobilization, dredging of the creeks, regular clean-up drive, training and seminars, information and education campaigns, and livelihood programs.

Topics for the two-day forum include the Status Report of the Adopted Water Bodies in Metro Manila, and nationally, which will give an overview of the quality of water in our esteros; presentations of promising initiatives from various private sector and local government unit partners; and programs relating to estero rehabilitation by selected national government agencies such as the Department of Interior and Local Governments, the Department of Public Works and Highways, Laguna Lake Development Authority, Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, Metro Manila Development Authority and the Manila Bay Coordinating Office of DENR.

There will also be presentations about “Effectively Engaging Communities” from University of the Philippines- Diliman, and “Livelihood Enterprises,’ from the Villar Foundation.

Currently, there are more than 365 agreements signed between DENR- EMB and private sector partners all over the country. The Adopt-an-Estero Program is one of the priority programs of the DENR and a key strategy to address the continuing mandamus of the Supreme Court to several government agencies to clean-up Manila Bay and its tributaries.