In a significant stride towards a cleaner Manila Bay, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), through its Manila Bay Office (MBO), recently concluded a pivotal capacity development training that armed Cavite’s local government units (LGUs) with advanced skills in water quality monitoring.
The second leg of a crucial capacity development training, held from May 22-23, 2025, in Tanza, Cavite equipped LGU environmental officers with hands-on expertise and theoretical knowledge, directly contributing to cleaner waters of the Manila Bay and its tributaries.
“Capacity development is crucial to advancing our mission of environmental protection and sustainability,” stated Dr. Girliesina E. Sebarillo of EMB-CALABARZON. “This training will help us develop better early warning systems, preserve and improve water quality, and prevent contamination of our water bodies.”
Dr. Sebarillo also underscored the urgent need to assess progress under RA 9275, or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, asking a crucial question: “Are we truly on the right track in rehabilitating our water bodies since its enactment?”
The two-day training delved deep into R.A. 9275, Malacañang Administrative Order No. 16, and the Operational Plan for the Manila Bay Coastal Strategy (OPMBCS), specifically focusing on Key Result Area 1: Liquid Waste Management and Key Result Area 2: Solid Waste Management. This comprehensive approach highlighted the indispensable role of LGUs in effectively implementing water quality monitoring and managing local water bodies.
A core component of the training was its blend of theoretical sessions and practical, hands-on activities.
LGU Environment and Natural Resources Officers (ENROs) from Cavite learned proper sampling methods and immediately applied their knowledge in real-world scenarios at the coastal waters of Tanza, Cavite, and the Timalan River in Naic, Cavite.
The capacity building series reinforces the EMB’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the technical capacities of LGUs.
By empowering them, the EMB aims to ensure the effective implementation and sustained success of initiatives aligned with the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program. The final leg of this crucial series is scheduled on May 28-30, 2025, in Bataan, where LGUs from Region 3 Central Luzon will participate.
This initiative is a direct response to Malacañang Administrative Order No. 16, s. 2019, and the broader objectives of the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program, emphasizing the shared responsibility of national and local institutions in preserving and improving the water quality of the Bay and its tributaries.
