Filipinos appreciate improved Manila Bay 

Filipinos are showing appreciation for the improved Manila Bay.

The Manila Bay rehabilitation and beautification program undertaken by the Duterte administration led to the removal of tons of garbage on the shores of Manila Bay along Roxas Boulevard.

Now, the Manila Bay area is drawing large crowd of local visitors.

For example, a resident of Quezon City said she enjoys the view, the air, and the white sand of the “new” Manila Bay.

“Bago. Bagong Manila Bay, maganda, fresh , malinis, di kagaya ng dati na ano siya, malaking malaking pagkaka improve," she was quoted as saying in a report by Philippine News Agency.

She said Manila Bay has greatly improved from what it was several years ago when trash and foul smell turned off tourists.

“Hindi namin mai-cocompare yung dati sa ngayon, kasi puro basura to dati. Hindi makakaupo ng ganito,” she said.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources turned a 500-meter stretch of Manila Bay along Roxas Boulevard into a white sand dolomite beach.

A resident from Marikina said she was impressed at how the government rehabilitated the area.

“Hindi na katulad ng dati puro basura, kahit hindi kami palaging nandito pero malaki talaga ang pinagbago. Pagkaano naglalakad lang naman kami diyan hindi naman talaga kami nag iistay na matagal," she said.

“Maganda kasi madaming tao, parang tourist spot na siya sa sobrang dami (It’s beautiful because there are so many people, it’s now like a tourist spot with many people coming),” she added.

At the center of the dolomite beach is a big stone with a picture of the old Manila Bay and now.

A couple from General Trias, Cavite said what they saw in Manila Bay was worth the trip.

“Malaking improvement, mas napapasyalan ng mga mamamayan ngayon, makikita nyo naman na napakaraming tao, nagsasaya nag eenjoy at yung pinapangarap nilang pagbabago is nakakamtan na nila," they said.

“Napakaganda po, mas maganda kesa sa nakikita sa Facebook. Sabi ko sa kanya, pasyalan natin gusto ko makita ng personal, sulit naman, masarap sa pakiramdam, maganda sa paningin," the couple said.

While visitors are allowed to enjoy walking on the beach, swimming remains prohibited, as it may take a few more years to bring the water quality to safe levels.