Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso has urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to consider relocating existing sewage treatment plants (STPs) along Roxas Boulevard.
Speaking at the Metro Manila Council (MMC) meeting Tuesday at the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) headquarters, Domagoso said the STPs are becoming “eyesores” that obstruct the city’s famous Manila Bay sunset view.
“We have two of them there on Roxas [Boulevard]. It’s becoming an eyesore as we progress. It’s okay, the intention is good, I have no disagreement with the intention,” Domagoso said, acknowledging the good environmental intention behind the facilities.
The Mayor proposed redirecting the wastewater pipelines to an open area within the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex, where a single, larger, and more efficient STP could be constructed.
“If possible, it’s just a pipe, just redirect it to the open space at the CCP. Maybe you can just build a new, larger STP there instead,” Domagoso told Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, who was present at the meeting.
Domagoso argued the proposed move would improve urban design, maximize underused public spaces, and help reclaim the visual and tourism value of the Manila Bay area, which he said is being marred by the unmaintained structures and “unsightly” white fences.
The mayor added that the city government supports ongoing DPWH efforts to upgrade water and drainage systems, noting the current re-piping of Taft Avenue with larger pipes is essential to address persistent flooding in the Ermita-Malate district.