The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, through the Laguna Lake Development Authority, has ordered the temporary closure of two famous eateries—the Aristocrat Restaurant on Roxas Boulevard, Manila and Gloria Maris Restaurant near the Folk Arts Theater—for generating and discharging pollutive wastewater in the Manila Bay in violation of Republic Act 4850 as amended by RA 9275.
LLDA general manager Jaime Medina also issued on Sunday a cease-and-desist order on one of the waste water treatment facilities of The Esplanade [San Miguel by the Bay] located at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City for the same violation.
The LLDA also issued notices of violation against some commercial establishments, such as the Prime Holdings, Sea Residences, Lolo Taba and Lola Pato Restaurant, and Aliw Inn.
The Manila Bay rehabilitation has kicked off with over 5,000 government employees from the 13 mandamus agencies and volunteers to clean up the bay to make it fit for swimming in December.
Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu led other Cabinet secretaries in a unity walk from the Quirino Grandstand to the baywalk area.
Those who joined the solidarity walk were Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Danilo Lim, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda and Presidential Commission on Urban Poor chairperson Alvin Feliciano.
