Thousands join bay cleanup launch

An estimated 5,000 volunteers joined the “Battle for Manila Bay” walk at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park Sunday morning to mark the launching of the rehabilitation of the bay.

The 8 a.m. event was led by government officials namely Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar and Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde.

DENR Sec Cimatu, DILG Sec Ano, DOT Sec Puyat, DPWH Sec Villar, & DENR officials lead the Solidarity Walk to officially launch the Manila Bay rehabilitation. #BattleforManilaBay #SaveManilaBay #ManilaBayanihan pic.twitter.com/VNolkRb98P

Cimatu called the bay “magnified cesspool” due to its high coliform level of 330 million most probable number (mpn) per 100 milliliters, 3.3 million times more than the safe level of 100 mpn/100ml.