SIX towns in Bulacan recently received motorized bancas from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to further boost the cleanup and rehabilitation of river systems directly flowing into the greater portion of Manila Bay.

Emelita Lingat, head of the DENR-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) in Bulacan, said the towns of Obando, Marilao, Paombong and Hagonoy, along with the cities of Malolos and Meycauyan, were among the recipients of motorized bancas, which would be used to intensify waterway patrolling and monitoring activities of the DENR and local government.

"The distribution of these boats is fundamental in our Manila Bay cleanup and rehabilitation efforts. These boats will be used in cleanup, monitoring and law enforcement activities, as well as in water quality testing in major river systems and streams in Bulacan," she said.

She also reported that these motorized bancas would be added to the seven boats previously distributed to towns of Marilao, Meycauayan, Bulakan, Obando, Paombong, Hagonoy, and the City of Malolos on 2018, which were then used for garbage collection.

Manila Bay has a total coastline of 190 kilometers, where 75 percent or 142 kilometers of it is part of Central Luzon.