CHANEL BUMANLAG

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Beautification and rehabilitation of Manila Bay; A natural

heritage, and a silent witness to the millennia of Philippine
history.

The World Wildlife Fund-Philippines and the World Bank identified the Philippines as the country
with the richest marine biodiversity with the whole archipelago situated atop the world's only
coral triangle. Manila Bay serves as a component of the Philippines' primary hub of economic
activity. This waterbody is a hub for various economic activities, including shipping, industrial
and commercial development, fishing, aquaculture, and tourist attractions. Nevertheless,
unreported and unregulated activities such as illegal fishing and marine pollution constantly
threaten the water bodies, including Manila Bay. In light of these issues, Manila Bay was
rehabilitated.

Even though Manila Bay has been undergoing several rehabilitation processes, it is critical to
establish a solution to develop the place more to mitigate the extinction of biodiversity
exacerbated by increased pollution, resolve the issue of reduced water quality, and control
floods as one of the adverse effects of pressure on natural ecosystems. Take into account the
challenges and possibilities proven by experts that may assist in re-establishing a new
environment for Manila Bay.

BODY

Several distinct sources of pollution affect Manila Bay. These forms of pollution are generated
from various human activities and severely affect both ecosystems and human health.

The government is not taking a very close look at what happens in Manila Bay. While the
government focused on cleanup, rehabilitation, and protection of Manila Bay, even after several
operational plans, the government still has not saved it. The complaint alleged that the quality of
Manila Bay had deteriorated significantly below the legally permissible limits. The complainants
claimed that these government entities had been negligent in reducing pollution in Manila Bay
over an extended time. The human-based activities that deteriorate Manila Bay are not being
monitored from time to time. What needs to be done is strict monitoring on the activities
happening in Manila Bay, for this will be an effective plan in preventing the people living there
from polluting the surroundings of Manila Bay continuously.

Generally speaking, humans are the primary source of water pollution, which may occur in
various ways, including the dumping of industrial waste and the increase in temperature, which
causes the modification of water by decreasing the amount of oxygen in its composition. I
propose that the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (Republic Act No. 9275), a law that makes
it illegal for anyone to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters without
first obtaining a permit by its terms and conditions, be applied as one of Manila Bay's rules and
regulations because Manila Bay is widely recognized as an excellent water body. According to a
recent investigation, Manila Bay's rules and regulations do not contain any laws that pertain to
human activities.

Deterioration of water quality has been recognized as one of the most severe environmental
issues confronting Manila Bay. Nonetheless, we must commit to maintaining the government's
meager efforts to clean up the waters of the historic bay by continuing to undertake essential
interventions to improve the water quality of Manila Bay, notwithstanding their limitations.

The government should enforce a more stringent regulation on waste disposal in Manila Bay
since many establishments have failed to adhere to the principles of corporate social
responsibility. In most cases, humans are the primary source of water pollution, which may
occur in several ways, including the dumping of industrial waste, temperature increase, which
causes the modification of water by decreasing the quantity of oxygen in its composition, and a
combination of these factors.

They have been discharging chemical pollutants into the waters of Manila Bay, putting a strain
on this delicate natural system in the process. To discipline them into practicing environmental
preservation and saving this marine life, it is necessary to prohibit them from doing so.

According to existing studies, coastal flooding in Manila Bay is caused by climate-induced

sea-level rise and land subsidence, resulting from excessive groundwater extraction and rapid
urban development.

If buildings are being put up here and there, massive sewage discharges into the Bay. Since
there will be more concentration of people in this infrastructure near Manila Bay, it is expected
that there will be more human body wastes to be discharged into the Bay. This is considered to
be marine pollution, and these rich people should be held accountable too. There should be a
more strategic plan on how to lessen the destructive discharges into the Bay. It could be
investing more in an efficient sewage system. They may not consider this as their money's
worth, but this is a great help for the Bay. Usually, the sewage system is in the same hurry or the
company does not pay attention.

In line with this, the land infrastructure contributes to the deterioration of Manila Bay and the
large vessels company. They were always focused on the “economic” side, so they forgot that
they were the significant contributors to the marine pollution in Manila Bay. There should be
strict compliance in terms of how many vessels should stay in the port daily. The more cargo
ships are sailing, the more oil leakage is possible to happen. The government should restrict the
sailing boats to a fixed number only.

COUNTERARGUMENT
Some laws were established to protect Manila Bay, and there were also bay watchers who were
placed in the area to monitor the human activities there; however, they are not efficient enough,
and there are times that they let these illegal activities slip away, for some were not paying
attention at all.

Concerning the residents, the government is doing nothing. As a last resort, they attempt to
relocate them, but this is not a very successful strategy given that more people will continue to
return to the bay since they will recognize that the bay offers more advantages than other
locations, such as this waterbody supporting many economic activities.

Although Manila Bay is affected by various sources of pollution, it has been through numerous
rehabilitation procedures to promote marine life preservation through its program, which may
eventually result in the establishment of ecological balance in the area.

CONCLUSION

Every unlawful activity directed to the authority is a small step that anyone could take in helping
the bay. We cannot stop these unregulated illegal activities in one night, but if we try to scare all
these illegal activity doers into making them realize that their acts will 100% lead to punishment
according to the law, there will be fewer people who will dare to continue these illegal acts.

The unreported activities happening in Manila Bay can turn into reported illegal activities. There
is no such thing as “impossible” if all people unite to bring back the soul of Manila Bay.

It does not imply that we are not personally impacted or will not take action in response to this
situation. Manila Bay is a part of our homeland, and imagine if our motherland were to acquire a
disease in one of her body parts. Yes, we are not the ones who are suffering; instead, our
mother is suffering. The same can be said about Manila Bay, which is located in our nation.
Doesn't it bother you that people refer to it as a "dumping ground"? Not only that, but do you not
want other nations to see how proud you are of your home?

Furthermore, we will only be able to do so if we participate in its upkeep and maintenance.

These dangers are not exclusive to one region of the Philippines but reflect growth trends
across the globe. Let us encourage pro-environmental conduct among Filipinos to inspire
people to be more conscious of their responsibility to keep Manila Bay clean.

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