Field Officers and Program Development Officers of the Manila Bay Clean-Up, Rehabilitation, and Preservation Program (MBCRPP) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government National Capital Region (DILG-NCR) participated in Manila Water’s Lakbayan Program last April 27, 2023.
Focal persons from DILG-NCR’s 17 Field Offices and the MBCRRP Program Management Team also joined the study tour to deepen and expand their knowledge about liquid waste management.
The Lakbayan Program is a short educational tour where participants can witness the entire water cycle from drawing raw water from the source, to its treatment into potable water and eventual distribution to customers in Manila Water’s concession area.
Part of the tour were visits to Manila Water’s Lakbayan Learning Center as well as to a plant where raw water is treated to produce potable drinking water. The participants also visited two of Manila Water’s Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) where wastewater is processed and treated prior to returning the same to Metro Manila’s rivers. These STPs are located in Olandes, Marikina City and Balara, Quezon City.
The learning gained by the participants from the Lakbayan Tour is expected to further boost the MBCRRP in establishing viable practices in reducing wastes discharged to our river systems. It shall also form part of DILG-NCR’s capacity development efforts and ongoing information drive to raise awareness regarding septage and sewage management practices pursuant to the objectives of the Clean Water Act of 2004.