Finally, a no-nonsense rehabilitation program for Manila Bay is in the horizon under President Rodrigo Duterte.

“It is only President Duterte who has shown the political will to clean up this important Manila landmark

Manila Bay is one of the most picturesque maritime landmarks in the world. Its famous sunset distinguishes it from other tourist attractions both locally and in Asia.

It is also a strategic body of water because it is a natural harbor, i.e., it is very deep even from a short distance from the seawall. This makes it ideal for even the biggest of the big ships.

Manila Bay is also historic. It is the site where in 1898, the American navy under Admiral George Dewey defeated the Spanish naval armada. America’s victory over a European power in the Battle of Manila Bay made the United States a world power overnight.

During the middle part of the martial law years, Manila Bay hosted the so-called “Floating Casino,” a gambling outlet inside a luxury yacht. It was the only casino operating in Manila during the martial law period.

Until about the 1970s, Manila Bay was clean enough for swimming and to support marine life.

The segment of Manila Bay in Pasay and Parañaque served as a private beach for the houses constructed beside the sea. Bayside strollers could savor the clean, crisp sea breeze.

Residents in nearby streets in Ermita and Malate shared the same experience.

Beginning in the 1970s, dirt, trash and debris polluted the bay. Many commercial establishments not only along the boulevard but also those half-a-kilometer away from the seawall used the bay as their septic tank. Petroleum leaks from ships at the Port Area added to the pollution. Informal settlers in the vicinity converted the bay into a communal toilet.

During her administration, President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino failed to check the problem.

Presidents after Aquino either ignored the bay pollution problem or paid lip service to it.

When Lito Atienza was Manila mayor, he converted the bay walk area into a restaurant row.

This added to the sewage problem in the bay. The restaurant row was dismantled when Atienza was no longer city mayor.

The extensive reclamation in Manila Bay since the 1990s has created more land in the area.

Half of the original seawall along the boulevard, the one along Pasay City, has been pushed back towards the water. Only the seawall between the United States Embassy and the Manila Yacht Club remains of the original structure.

Today, commercial malls, hotels and buildings are all over the reclamation site. This, of course, adds to the problem of bay water pollution, unless the establishments concerned are complying with waste water treatment laws and regulations.

So far, it is only President Duterte who has shown the political will to clean up this important Manila landmark. Under the clean-up, establishments found to be contributors to the pollution of the bay, the Manila Zoo included, have been temporarily shuttered and directed to comply with wastewater treatment regulations.

Judging from the way many establishments have been ordered closed or instructed to fix their sewerage systems and considering that the informal settlers have been ordered relocated, Duterte’s plan to clean up Manila Bay may turn out successful. Since Duterte has done it before in the ex-cesspool that was Boracay, there is no reason to doubt his success in Manila Bay.

Many city locals, the young ones in particular, are already looking forward to swimming in the bay or at least see it clear of pollution.

While President Duterte is at it, the seawall behind some of the seaside restaurants in the reclamation area should be made more accessible to promenaders. The existing seawall there blocks the view of the sunset.

The ships at the Port Area should also be checked for pollutants.

From all indications, President Duterte is certain to succeed in Manila Bay, even if the pessimists who make up the moribund Liberal Party and their like-minded allies do their best to undermine this long overdue clean-up program.

Once Manila Bay is clean again, its majesty will surely call on many to visit the bay area and take pride in the nation’s beauty. Indeed, a clean Manila Bay will be one of the greatest legacies of President Duterte to the Filipino people.