The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) is aggressively pushing to accelerate the rehabilitation of Manila Bay, holding a critical mid-year assessment and benchmarking workshop on July 21-25, 2025, in South Cotabato. This intensive five-day initiative, brought together key EMB officials to confront progress and strategize catch-up plans, directly addressing the Supreme Court’s mandate to clean and preserve the iconic bay.
The EMB’s Manila Bay Office (MBO) spearheaded the “Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Midyear Assessment Workshop cum Water Quality Management Area (WQMA) Benchmarking Activity,” participated by delegates from the EMB Central Office and its regional branches overseeing Manila Bay (NCR, Region 3, and Region 4-A), and alongside EMB Region 12.
The workshop primarily focused on a thorough review of the implementing offices’ performance from January to June 2025, specifically examining both physical accomplishments and financial utilization. The goal was to identify gaps and formulate concrete, feasible catch-up plans to ensure all targets are met by year-end. This initiative directly supports the Operational Plan for the Manila Bay Coastal Strategy (OPMBCS), particularly its key result areas concerning liquid and solid waste management and aligns with broader national development plans.
Ms. Consolacion Crisostomo, chief of the Policy, Planning and Program Development Division (PPPDD) of the EMB, said “We convene to assess, recalibrate, and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the restoration of Manila Bay’s ecological integrity. This is not a check-up but an imperative.”
A vital component of the workshop was a benchmarking activity at Sarangani Bay, a designated Water Quality Management Area widely recognized for its effective governance and integrated water quality management. This presented a crucial opportunity for participants to learn directly from a model of environmental success.
During site visits and engagements with local officials and Governing Board members, participants gained firsthand insights into the planning, implementation, and monitoring systems that have led to “meaningful environmental outcomes” in Sarangani Bay. Officials highlighted the critical role of strong inter-local government unit (LGU) collaboration and stakeholder engagement in achieving these successes.
EMB Assistant Director Maria Dorica Naz-Hipe enjoined the participants, stating, “As we move forward, I challenge each region to transform your catch-up plans into actual outputs and outcomes.” “Ensure that your programs are not only compliant with paper but are truly responsive to the needs of Manila Bay and its tributaries. Let us pursue full alignment with our mandates and objectives,” she concluded.