DOST steps up efforts to reduce pollution in Manila Bay – Manila Bulletin

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) pledged Thursday (November 4) to step up efforts to reduce pollution in Manila Bay.

DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña laments that in terms of major environmental problems, Manila Bay is facing deteriorating water quality, coastal erosion and water pollution. siltation, overexploitation of fishery resources, degradation of habitats and loss of biodiversity.

“Most of the pollution came from human activities on land, including the discharge of municipal, industrial and agricultural wastes, land runoff and atmospheric deposition,” he said in a message during the “Consultation of the parties” e-SMART Project Stakeholders: Updates and Discussions on the Hydrological and Hydrodynamic Analysis of the Manila Bay Environment ”Thursday.

The e-SMART project or the ecosystem, modeling and analysis of material transport for the rehabilitation of Manila Bay is one of the four constituent projects of the integrated system of mapping, monitoring, modeling and management from Manila Bay and related systems or IM4ManilaBay. program.

Launched in January 2020, the IM4ManilaBay program aims to preserve Manila Bay.

De la Peña said he looks forward to how researchers at the University of the Philippines Diliman characterize Manila Bay and its watershed and related environments to provide information for rehabilitation and management through the water quality monitoring and mapping, hydrodynamic and hydrological modeling, and dredging materials and solid waste management.

“True to our mission to bring science closer to the Filipinos, we will further strengthen our efforts to reduce environmental pollution and provide better access to clean, safe water by generating game-changing and environmentally friendly technologies and policies. the environment, ”he said.

He urged relevant stakeholders to “continue to collaborate with DOST and together we bring a stronger nation”.

DOST, through the Philippine Council for Research and Development of Industry, Energy and Emerging Technologies (PCIEERD), supported the IM4ManilaBay program with funding amounting to $ 65.9 million. pesos.