The Metro Manila area has a concentration of population of 12 million people, and practically all the sewage is discharged without treatment. The Manila Bay, Pasig River, and the Laguna Lake represent three key water bodies of socio-economic importance to the country, all exhibiting varying degrees of environmental degradation. These water bodies reflect the general state of Philippine waters, which are seriously confronted with untreated domestic sewage contamination problems.
The objectives of the Manila Third Sewerage Project is to improve the living conditions of urban residents, including the poor, by reducing human exposure to sewage, through strategic investments in sewerage and sanitation; to establish the viability of new approaches for sewage management in MM; and to reduce water pollution in its rivers, Laguna Lake and Manila Bay. With GEF support, water pollution control institutions in Manila would review overlaps in their responsibilities, develop suitable and controllable water quality and sewage treatment standards, coordinate and integrate water pollution control existing master plans, and implement MTSP-tested innovations within these plans.
Wastewater
Budget
USD 92,810,000
Total Cost of the project
USD 5,000,000
GEF Allocation to project
Demonstration sites
Manila Bay and its catchment areaPartners
The main focus is on helping the poorest people and the poorest countries, but for all its clients the Bank emphasizes the need for:Investing in people, particularly through basic health and educationFocusing on social development, inclusion, governance, and institution-building as key elements of poverty reduction Strengthening the ability of the governments to deliver quality services, efficiently and transparently Protecting the environment Supporting and encouraging private business developmentPromoting reforms to create a stable macroeconomic environment, conducive to investment and long-term planning.
The history of the Department goes back as far as 1863 when by virtue of a Spanish Royal Decree an office known as Inspeccion General de Montes was created in the Philippines. Although that agency focused on forest administration in its generic terms as dictated by the limited scope of services then required, nevertheless its functions and responsibilities included several concerns related to the management of a wide range of natural resources, such as forest inventory and protection, land classification, watershed protection, water, biodiversity and mineral resources conservation.