Thanks to the Netherlands, a Manila Bay makeover is on its way

Here’s a makeover many Manileños have been waiting for.

Yesterday, the Philippines and the Netherlands made official a plan to rehabilitate the heavily polluted Manila Bay.

The memorandum of understanding was signed by Philippine Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia and Dutch Ambassador to the Philippines Marion Derckx at the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) office in Pasig City.

With the Dutch government’s help, the Philippines will create the Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan that will make sure the bay is improved and developed sustainably.

According to the Philippine Star, the Dutch government will contribute the services of Dutch experts worth PHP75 million (US$1.5 million). The same article reported that restoring water quality so that it is fit for fishing and swimming is one of the main goals.

The government also plans to improve infrastructure in the area, manage informal settlers, control flood, and offer ferry rides that connect the bay to the Pasig River and Laguna de Bay.

The master plan will be created in the next 30 months.

“We are fortunate to have the Dutch with us in this endeavor. Their extensive knowledge and experience in implementing programs and projects that protect vulnerable coastal zones are unparalleled,” Pernia said in his speech yesterday.

The Netherlands is known for its environmental sustainability and coastal management.

According to NEDA, plans for this partnership started in 2015 when the Philippine government asked the Dutch government to send experts to assess the bay’s current situation. They found that there was an urgent need to create a framework for the area’s development and management, prompting the current administration to allot PHP250 million (US$4.9 million) for NEDA’s 2017 budget.

The Manila Bay has historically been an important port and was a main attraction in the city. However, it has become more polluted in recent years. One waste audit in 2014 collected 1,594 liters of garbage from the bay.

In October, a real estate development company announced that they plan to develop an area near Manila Bay into what they call Manila Waterfront City, a mixed-use development that will house residential and commercial buildings, museums, hotels, and amusement parks.

Another project called the New Manila Bay – City of Pearl is also in the works and aims to be the world’s biggest smart city.

Now, if only it can be as quick as those makeover montages in the movies.