SALUTATIONS

I WAS DEEPLY OVERWHLEMED BY WHAT I’VE SEEN TODAY. IT IS AN EMOTIONALSIGHT OF PEOPLE WALKING TOGETHER, HAND IN HAND EXPRESSING OUR SOLIDARITY. THIS HUGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE – FROM DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS, PRIVATE SECTORS, AND EVEN FOREIGNERS, MANIFEST POLIITICAL WILL AND COMMITMENT TO SAVE AND PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT.

THIS IS NOT ONLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT BUT THIS IS A RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL WHETHER YOU’RE A FILIPINO OR FOREIGNER. THE MOMENT YOU SET FOOT IN OUT BELOVED COUNTRY, YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR ENVIRONMENT FOR THE WELFARE OF THE FUTURE GENERATION.

TODAY, WE WILL BE MAKING ANOTHER HISTORY HERE IN MANILA BAY. WITH SIMULTANEOUS ACTION FROM BULACAN, PAMPANGA, BATAAN AND CAVITE, WE WILL LAUNCH THE BIGGEST BATTLE OF THEM ALL – NOT AGAINST ANY INVADERS, BUT AGAINST DECADES OF ENVIRONMENTAL ABUSE UPON THIS JEWEL OF OUR HISTORICAL HERITAGE, THE MANILA BAY.

NANG SIMULAN NATIN ANG BORACAY, MARAMI ANG NAGSABING IMPOSIBLE. NANG MARINIG KO ITO, LALONG LUMAKAS ANG LOOB KO. POSIBLE NAMAN PALA. NGAYON, MANILA BAY NAMAN.

CLEANING UP MANILA BAY IS A CHALLENGE TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF US. AND I CONSIDER THIS AS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OF THEM ALL.

KASAMA BA NAMIN KAYO SA CHALLENGE NA ITO? 

(WAIT FOR RESPONSE)

UULITIN KO, KASAMA BA NAMIN KAYO SA CHALLENGE NA ITO?

WITH THE STRONG ORDER FROM OUR PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE, I WILL STAND FIRM BESIDE HIM WITH THE MANILA BAY INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE AND WITH THIS. WE ACCEPT THE GREATEST CHALLENGE.

THE CHALLENGE WAS ONLY DUBBED AS THE “BATTLE FOR MANILA BAY” BUT WE WILL DEAL WITH IT RIGHT FROM THE SOURCE, FROM THE ILLEGAL WATER DISCHARGE OF ABUSIVE ESTABLISHMENTS DOWN TO THE WATERWAYS, CREEKS AND RIVERS THAT LEADS TO MANILA BAY.

WE CANNOT AFFORD TO PROLONG THIS CLEAN UP ACTIVITY BECAUSE IT HAS LONG BEEN NEGLECTED. WHAT WE FAILED TO CLEAN UP IN THE PAST, SHOULD BE DEALT WITH ACCORDINGLY TODAY. THAT WE WILL SUSTAIN IN THE FUTURE.

LAWS, WE HAVE ALL THE LAWS INCLUDING THE SUPREME COURT MANDAMUS.

PEOPLE, WE HAVE ALL THE PEOPLE BUT……

IT IS OUR HEART, IT IS OUR PASSION TO SAVE MANILA BAY THAT WILL SERVE AS OUR BEST WEAPON IN ACCOMPLISHING THIS DAUNTING TASK.

MANILA BAY IS NOT A LOST CAUSE. WITH THE COMMITMENT AND DETERMINATION OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL, TO DO HIS SHARE IN THIS REHABILITATION, THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT WE WILL WIN THIS BATTLE.

WITH THIS, I LEAVE A CHALENGE QUESTION TO ALL OF YOU….

KUNG HINDI TAYO AND MAGSISIMULA, SINO?

KUNG HINDI NGAYON, KAILAN PA?

KAYA’T LAGI PO NATING TATANDAAN….

IKAW, AKO, TAYO ANG KALIKASAN.

WITH THIS NOTE … GUIDE US, O LORD, AS I DECLARE, THE BATTLE FOR MANILA BAY!