Leadership towards Sustainable Environment, a Political Will

“The article paper is an essay reflecting on the present status of the Manila Bay and was composed to express the happiness and thankful as well serve as a document in reclaiming through massive clean-up by the inter-government agencies under the Duterte administration initiative for the people. Because of Duterte’s strong political will and love to the country, he only did what he has promised to the Filipino people during the campaign and that was one of his programs, an environmental clean-up in destroying the graft and corrupt practitioner throughout his agencies around the country and that is now happening in his leadership. However, the so-called, “Battle for Manila Bay” has continuously opposed by several politicians and several sectors have fabricated with any allegation of wrongdoing as nuisances and exploited for only one goal in driving Duterte out of Malacanang. But because of his strong will for the country, the people behind the social media from around the world supported him well against the allegations from the clamors what the bishops did, opposition parties, communists and the terrorists, however, actions always speak louder than voice.”

Throwback: Manila Bay in Marcos Regime

During the Marcos regime in the Philippines, the Manila Bay was cleaned, perhaps maintained the cleanliness and order all the time. The people from the city were enjoyed in the place as part of their recreation and tourists spot that time. Many tourists visited the bay because of their famous sunset which has beautiful scenery and fascinated reflection on everyone. With the fabulous scenery had valued what the leadership we had before for the country was.  Indeed, people were enjoyed how the area has maintained the cleanliness and respected the value of a sustainable environment.

As a matter of fact, with below picture (Figure 1) is what the Manila Bay in the 1970s which can’t be denied how beautiful it was, indeed, a better place for relaxation which was maintained by Madam Imelda Marcos for tourist attraction in Manila as part of her beautification program in the country. That was good reminiscing of the life before because of the leader who has the political will for the Filipino as well as sustaining the environment for the next generation, and that was the late President Ferdinand Marcos's regime. Can you imagine how it was today (in 3-decades after the Marcos regime) and what was the Manila Bay before and indeed, a magnificent place that can be proud of, right? What can you say with the picture? I know that everyone will be surprised and some might don’t believe about the image below but what can we do if that was the picture of the famous Manila Bay. However, let us discuss how it becomes and why it is happening in this generation.

The Manila Bay after Marcos in 3-Decades

The development that was provided by the late President Marcos for the Filipinos was tremendously changed from the Aquino to Aquino Administrations and most likely the Philippines were suffered because of the fabrication of the false accusations that Marcos did to the country. And that was from the authorship of the Oligarchs and the Catholic Priests with the manufacturing of fake news through the mainstream media. For 3-decades, the history of the Philippines was manipulated with false agenda and rising of garbage throughout the country, and that was what happened as reflected on whatever garbage they did to the country as they did the same to Manila Bay in Figure 2.

However, the comparisons between the figures, as shown above, are self-explanatory which can’t be denied how beautiful Manila Bay was during the Marcos regime with law and order throughout the country. As compared to the Aquino to Aquino administrations that made the Philippines as one of the poorer in the ASEAN region reflecting in the Manila Bay garbage as mirrored on how they mislead the country with full of hypocrisy, graft and corrupt government officials that supposed to be for the Filipino subsidy as late President Marcos did in his administration for the country.

The hypocrisy behind Manila Bay Rehabilitation

Because of many feedback and complaints from the concerned citizens, which can be read on all newspapers and mainstream media in the past decades, initially, in 2008, the Supreme Court already ordered for the Manila Bay’s rehabilitation concerning the filed case against the government agencies last 1999. But then again was followed the order of the Supreme Court on February 15, 2011, and sad to say that negligence has continuously kept up to garbage and nobody follows the law. Until it stems from what we have the current administrations with a strongman President Duterte orders for Manila Bay Clean-Up, and again, it was not from the Supreme Court ruling in 2008, but to our beloved Duterte’s political will.

Battle for Manila Bay with the Rehabilitation Initiatives

As I remember and rumored that Manila Bay rehabilitation during the campaign of Boracay will be the next and surprisingly that happened last January 27, 2019, when I heard from the news, I opened my laptop and searched in the YouTube what’s going on the Clean-Up Drive, and I found out how massive it was. That was the first time in history where the Clean-Up Drive has participated from all different government agencies/workers, volunteers from other organizations and individuals who joined the historic event. Most especially the DENR Secretary Cimatu, DILG Secretary Ano and other Duterte Cabinet Secretaries present who led the initiative and accordingly was referred to as “Battle for Manila Bay.” Whenever President Duterte asked for the changes, ultimately, the rehabilitation of Manila Bay has started without any hesitation but a political will for the country.

The historic event of January 27 early in the morning whereas most of the government agencies have participated in reclaiming what Manila Bay was before. And, at the end of the day of cleaned-up, a vast change has been noticed from smelly garbage Manila Bay into a natural sea breeze, and that was witnessed even by the foreigners alongside the bay aside from more than 5,000 volunteers who made into a reality – that was the initiatives and political will from the Duterte’s administration.

Why this happening? And that was for more than 3-decades whereas everybody knows how Manila Bay was smelly garbage and trashed. The story was started from Cory Aquino to Ramos to Erap to Arroyo and to the mentally ill Noynoy Aquino who does not initiate even and maintained whatever the late President Marcos left until President Duterte came with a vision for the country.

From history since my childhood, Manila Bay was one of the tourist spots known for its famous beautiful sunset whereas most of the foreigners visited and witnessed how the sunset to the west. And because of Cory Aquino’s negligence and up to Noynoy Aquino administrations, Manila Bay became the black image to the country – known for its informal settlers and criminals home. The people from around the world were much disappointed with their silly governance until a strongman came in the name of our beloved President Duterte who has the political will in saving Manila Bay in reinstating what it was before during the late President Marcos. The changes made by the entire agencies and volunteers have a significant impact on the world and most especially the Filipinos throughout the country. The initiatives held by these groups and even the migrating birds came in flying along the seashore line’s which they have been celebrated the happiness that cannot be noticed before the massive cleaned-up and the smelly garbage has vanished instantly with a natural sea breeze that made the people’ smile and expressing their love to Manila Bay.

Facts on the Manila Bay Rehabilitation

As you can see how effective the mandate, indeed, Figure 3 and Figure 4 are one of the images that have been documented and searchable on the internet how rehabilitation works with more than 5000 volunteers participated and multiplies their concern and love for the environment. Accordingly, the facts can’t be denied how the President initiates for the country’s progressions which always subject throughout local and outside the Philippines of his vision for the Filipinos in the next generation. However, the rehabilitation of Manila Bay can be said as the president’s political will as an example after the successful restoration of the Boracay Island in 6-months 24/7 operation.

If we can only recall what the plan for Manila Bay’s rehabilitation was, it is; indeed, that was initially ordered by the Supreme Court in 2008, and however, the order was never materialized until now. The fact that was never emerged in 10-years because of the negligence of the previous administrations until President Duterte came for his political will in mandating Manila Bay’s rehabilitation. Moreover, there are 178 LGUs and 5,714 barangays inside the Manila Bay Watershed Area with the DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2019-09 that was released on January 24, 2019. The memorandum has an order to “fulfill their roles and responsibilities under environmental laws that contribute to the rehabilitation of Manila Bay,” and weekly clean-up drives as an initiative.

According to the DENR Secretary Cimatu, the rehabilitation has 3 Phases to complete the restoration of the project with the following strategies as such: cleanup and water quality improvement; rehabilitation and resettlement; and education and sustainment. Additionally, the DENR ordered the establishments around the bay to put up their sewage treatment plants. To the fact that President Duterte threatens closure of all the establishments polluting Manila Bay, however, the DENR has already found out the violators in the first week of the implementation, and that was about 15 Factories in Bulacan, 3 Restaurants, Manila Zoo, and others are already closed. The fulfillment by the inter-agencies is strictly implementing the order, and no one can be excused.

Because of the initiatives, the budget for the Manila Bay rehabilitation program was already approved by President Duterte of 47 Billion Pesos rehabilitation for 7-years Clean-Up Project. But look at what the facts after reconstruction in Figure 5 compared as you can see in Figure 2 are. Nobody can believe that can be done in just a day for the initial clean-up which was shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 because for the past administrations from Aquino to Aquino administrations don’t know the way as the current administration did. And it is just restoring what was the late President Marcos had in Figure 1 which genuinely a beautiful place that should be taken care of in the past 3-decades, but was not happening and again, even there was already an order from the Supreme Court, still, has no voice and has no power on how that can be driven. It is the fact that only a strongman can do the same as the late President Marcos was, and it is our beloved President Duterte who has with the political will that can fight for the good for the Filipino people and the next generation.

What happened after Manila Bay Rehabilitation?

After the massive clean-up, the migrating birds were enjoyed flying throughout the seashore, and that was the sign that the heaven is within the heart of the Filipinos who volunteered in the event. People from around the corners came to visit for the Manila Bay as you can see in Figure 6, Figure 7, and Figure 8 as self-explanatory who were enjoyed while witnessing the beauty of the sunset.

That was good as it was, right? In 3-decades after the late President Marcos, everybody can feel like a free man and you can feel the happiness brought by everyone who visited the Manila Bay of the love they have to the environment. No matter what happened in the past, the sunset brought in the Manila Bay is a big factor of a winner and as a citizen of the Philippine that can be proud of.

With the help of social media, rehabilitation with the massive clean-up at the Manila bay has become viral in gaining a positive impact not only in the Philippines but to the whole world. And because of curiosity by individuals, early Sunday morning of January 4, people came to visit the Manila Bay as can be seen in Figure 9. How they truly love the environment and the spirit of joy can’t be explained but thanks to our beloved President Duterte of his political will, after the Boracay Island, and now is with the rehabilitation of the Manila Bay. Although that was in the initial stage of clean-up, the glory can’t be imagined of the joy that brings to everyone.

Conclusion

The “Battle of Manila Bay” is a great challenge to everyone that can’t be denied the positive impact of their greatness they did. Although that was the initial stage conducted by the Inter-agencies of the Duterte Administration, the sacrifices and the motivation gathered can’t be measured how great they are in winning that kind of campaign. For the past 3-decades from Aquino to Aquino administrations have no guts and will as compared with our beloved President Duterte that has the political will. He is a strongman who has a vision for the country and for the Filipino people in the next generation whereas aiming for a sustainable environment with law and order that can’t be denied as his initiative and will. With Figure 10, it’s up to you can decide who are the Garbage President of the Philippines and the president who molested the entire country of graft and corrupt practices that have no law and order in 3-decades after the late President Marcos. That is too shy, right? But that’s the reality of what happened in my country, and of course the fact of Catholicism hypocrisy and the Oligarchs who monopolized into an emerging state and fabrication of fake news and fake history.

“Filipinos are not destined to be poor and they are among the hardest working people in the world. But due to decades of economic mismanagement, Filipinos are working hard for the economies of America, the European Union, South Korea, China, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, and the wealthy Arab monarchies rather than for the economy at home. This is because while nations like South Korea and China export goods, The Philippines exports people – by any definition this is the antithesis of both economic openness and nationalism.” by Adam Garrie on his Eurasia Article.

Write-Up Reference can be Read from this Link;

Gomeseria, RV; (February 2019); “Review about the Reflection on the Battle of Manila Bay (Leadership towards Sustainable Environment, a Political Will);” Retrieved from; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330857172_Review_about_the_Reflection_on_the_Battle_of_Manila_Bay_Leadership_towards_Sustainable_Environment_a_Political_Will