(Salutations)

This occasion is more than just an event to give out awards, it is also a celebration of thanksgiving. Today, we pay tribute to individuals, organizations, and offices from the government and private sectors for their hard work, commitment, and support in implementing the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program.

A lot of people doubted our rehabilitation program saying that this is just but an impossible dream. Many have given up hope in reviving what was once an icon of the country. Others were cynical and said our program is a lost cause, an utter waste of resources.

But because we have a strong-willed president, our president Rodrigo Roa Duterte, his competent team, our former Department of Environment and Natural Resources secretary Roy A. Cimatu included, we faced the challenges head on.

We took off from our Boracay successes and marched on to our battle for Manila Bay in January 2019.

As usual, when Secretary Cimatu was challenged, he said, “challenge accepted!”

Then slowly, we reaped our own successes in the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program. We proved many people wrong.

Last Sunday, coinciding with our 124th independence day, we have unveiled the Heritage Cannon erected at the area fronting the Rajah Sulayman Park, as a reminder of the Battle of Manila Bay during World War II and the continuing battle for Manila Bay for the days to come.

We have also inaugurated the Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach and unveiled the dolomite beach marker made from a dolomite boulder.

The DENR is honoured to have been given the opportunity to lead the inter-agency task force that President Duterte created to restore the Manila Bay to its former glory, as the Supreme Court ordered way back in 2008.

We, however, would not have accomplished our task without the people and organizations who helped us as we journey along our rehabilitation and clean-up efforts. We have a lot of heroes in the midst of all this.

We share the credit with these heroes including thousands of volunteers.

And we sincerely dedicate this Manila Bay-ani Awards to our partners who exemplified diligent efforts in our Manila Bay rehabilitation program. Congratulations to all our awardees!

Ladies and gentlemen, this proves that in any undertaking, no one is small and no accomplishment is too little.

Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat!

Mabuhay!