MANILA - The Department of Budget (DBM) has alloted at least P1.64 billion fund for the implementation of the Supreme Court’s order for various government agencies to undertake the immediate cleanup and rehabilitation of Manila Bay.

In a two-page compliance submitted to the Supreme Court, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. said the fund was included in the 2010 National Expenditure Program submitted by President Arroyo to Congress on August 26, 2009.

Out of the P1.64 billion, P1.53 billion will go to Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for its solid waste disposal and management; operational support, maintenance, repair and rehabilitation of flood control and drainage systems, structures and related facilities; and urgent disaster flood control works udner the Pasig-San Juan-Marikina River systems and other areas in Metro Maniala.

The fund will also be spent by the MMDA to mitigate flooding at Buendia-South Superhighway area and vicinity and relocation of informal settlers along waterways in Metro Manila.

The amount of P20 million was alloted for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ physical and water quality monitoring, mangrove reforestation and stream bank protection, bio-ecological monitoring, advocacy and communication.

The DENR-Office of the Secretary, on the other hand, will get a total of P15 million intelligence fund for data gathering on offenders of illegal forest extraction, illegal fish pens, smuggling of ozone depleting substances and small scale mining activities.

For Manila Bay cleaning up, sampling, collection and analysis of data, the DENR-Environment Management Bureau will get P4 million out of the total budget.

On the other hand, a total of P75.57 million was earmarked for DENR-EMB’s River Quality Monitoring Designation and operationalization of water quality management; classification and monitoring of Manila Bay; rehabilitation of the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando river system; monitoring of Boracay; Baywatch and Tapwatch Programs; and industrial monitoring.

“The budget deliberations for the fiscal year 2010 NEP will commence September of 2009 and continue until the same is passed by Congress and approved by the President as the General Appropriations Act of 2010,” Andaya informed the Court.

The Court earlier threatened to cite in contempt the heads of various government agencies for their failure to comply with its December 18, 2008 decision ordering them to undertake the clean-up operations of Manila Bay.

Covered by the show cause order are Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)   Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Department of Health (DOH)  Francisco Duque,  Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) head Jojo Allado and the heads of the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Ports Authority and Philippine National Police-Maritime Police.

Malacanang, however, directed its said concerned government agencies to immediately comply with the Court order.

The SC has created an advisory committee headed by Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, who penned the decision, to receive, review and validate the reports submitted by the concerned government agencies.

The other members of the committee are former DENR Secretary Elisea Gozun, former DENR Undersecretary and current Dean of the Ateneo School Government Antonio G.M. La Viña, and the former Director of the UP-Marine Science Institute Dr. Gil Jacinto as members.

SC spokesman Jose Midas Marquez has been designated as vice chair of the advisory committee.

In its December 2008 ruling, the SC has tasked the DENR, being the primary government agency responsible for the protection of environment, to fully implement its operational plan for the rehabilitation and conservation of the Manila Bay the soonest possible time.

As for the MMDA, DPWH, DILG, affected LGUs, PNP-MG, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), the SC ordered the said government agencies to dismantle  and remove all shanties and illegal structures put up along the Pasig-Marikina-San Juan rivers, the Paranaque-Zapoter, Las Pinas rivers, the Navotas-Malabon-Tullahan-Tenejeros rivers, and connecting waterways in Metro Manila.

The Court also ordered the removal of illegal structures along the Meycauayan-Marilao-Obando rivers, the Talisay River, the Imus River, the Laguna de Bay, and other rivers, connecting, waterways and esteros that discharge wastewater into the Manila Bay should also be undertaken, according to the SC.

It also enjoined the DILG to direct all LGUs in Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga and Bataan to inspect all factories, commercial establishments, and private homes along the banks of the major river systems in their respective areas of jurisdiction.