The Department of the Interior and Local Government – National Capital Region (DILG-NCR), through the Manila Bay Clean-Up, Rehabilitation, and Preservation Program Program Management Team (MBCRPP-PMT), participated in the Manila Bayanihan Awards and Incentives (MBAI) National Validation in Marikina City last October 15, 2025 following the city’s top performance in the 2024 Local Government Unit Compliance Assessment (LGU-CA) in the Region.

Marikina City ranked first among all NCR LGUs for the performance year 2024 for its strong implementation of key environmental initiatives under the Manila Bay Clean-Up, Rehabilitation, and Preservation Program (MBCRPP).

The National Inter-Agency Committee (NIAC) conducted the validation process, composed of representatives from the DILG MBCRPP-Program Management Office (MBCRPP-PMO), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), National Housing Authority (NHA), and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

During the validation, the NIAC assessed Marikina City’s performance in three key clusters: Solid Waste Management (SWM), Liquid Waste Management (LWM), and Informal Settler Families (ISF). These clusters reflect the core outcome areas of the MBCRPP and serve as benchmarks for LGU performance in environmental governance.

The MBAI serves as a vital mechanism for monitoring local government performance and ensuring adherence to environmental laws and policies. It also demonstrates DILG’s strong commitment to multi-agency collaboration and sustainable urban management. Through this initiative, LGUs are encouraged to actively contribute to environmental resilience and the continuing rehabilitation of Manila Bay.

The MBCRPP stems from the Supreme Court Mandamus on the Manila Bay Rehabilitation, a landmark decision issued in 2008 that ordered 13 national government agencies, including the DILG, to clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve Manila Bay. The ruling also underscored the responsibility of LGUs to enforce environmental laws within their jurisdictions and to support the collective effort to restore the bay’s water quality to safe and recreational levels.

As the Manila Bay rehabilitation efforts continue, the DILG-NCR reaffirms its commitment to advancing environmental governance and promoting strong partnerships among government agencies, LGUs, and communities. Through shared accountability and sustained action, these efforts aim to protect and restore one of the nation’s most vital ecological and cultural resources.