The Department of the Interior and Local Government – National Capital Region (DILG-NCR), through its Manila Bay Clean-up Rehabilitation Program – Project Management Team (MBCRP-PMT), successfully hosted the 2nd Quarter Manila BAYanihan Data Capture Form (MB-DCF) Online System Simultaneous Validation on July 14-16, 2025, at Cocoon Boutique Hotel, Quezon City. 

The three-day activity brought together MB-DCF Focal Persons from the MBCRPP Program Management Office (PMO) of the DILG Central Office and the Regional Program Management Teams (PMTs) of the National Capital Region, Region III, and Region IV-A to check, verify, and validate data submitted by the Local Government Units (LGUs) within the Manila Bay Region. The quarterly report covers LGU accomplishments on the Liquid Waste Management (LWM), Solid Waste Management (SWM), and the Management of Informal Settler Families (ISF).

Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Division (LGMED) Assistant Division Chief Marda Alina Dumaoang-Acoba, in her welcoming message, underscored the evolving role of the MB-DCF Online System beyond being a mere compliance tool, describing it as a driver of “strategic, data-informed governance” for a more sustainable Manila Bay. DILG Bureau of Local Government Supervision (BLGS) Assistant Director Rolynne A. Javier likewise highlighted the importance of accurate reporting and the continuous guidance to LGUs in achieving environmental targets.

Day 1 of the activity engaged the participants in technical discussions on encoding procedures, documentation standards, and navigation of the updated system. The validation sessions then focused on ensuring the consistency and accuracy of reports with the uploaded supporting documents,  identifying LGU challenges and areas for improvement in the system, and promoting transparency and accountability in environmental governance.

The final day of the activity featuired insightful discussion on two key initiatives aligned with the Manila Bay rehabilitation agenda: the Fisheries Compliance Audit (FishCA) and Memorandum Circular No. 2025-066, which focuses on the establishment and protection of coastal greenbelts. These initiatives are critical in enhancing coastal resilience, ensuring sustainable fisheries, and safeguarding marine ecosystems across the Manila Bay watershed.

In her closing remarks, LGMED Division Chief Ana Jury H. Castillo extended her gratitude to the attendees, emphasizing that the event should serve as a reminder of what can be achieved when everyone works together with shared values and unwavering purpose for a responsible, adaptive, and data-driven environmental governance. 
Further, DC Castillo encouraged participants to take action: “May we be champions of change and innovation in our respective regions, guiding our LGUs with determination toward the vision of a cleaner, safer, and more resilient Manila Bay”.