The Supreme Court has told 12 government agencies to submit a report about their efforts to fix up Manila Bay and the impact of the reclamation projects in the area.
They want to know how pollution in Manila Bay is measured and what the government plans to do to make it better.
The top court requested that various government organizations, including the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Education, Health, Agriculture, Public Works and Highways, Budget and Management, Interior and Local Government, along with the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police Maritime Group, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, also outline their plans for the upcoming five years.
The Supreme Court stated that it will hold oral discussions regarding the Manila Bay pollution case in addition to the reports. However, the specific date for these discussions was not mentioned.
Back in 2008, the Supreme Court told the government agencies to clean up and protect Manila Bay. In 2011, they told them to follow through with their orders.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently stopped all the projects to fill in parts of Manila Bay.
The government is looking at 22 projects, including ones that are still happening, ones with permits, and ones that just need some paperwork.
Source: PhilNews24 | September 1, 2023
