BALANGA CITY (PIA) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has released 8,000 bokashi balls into the Ibayo River in Balanga City.
This activity, participated by state workers and personnel from SM City Bataan, aims to restore the pristine waters of Manila Bay.
DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo emphasized that bokashi balls, locally known as ‘Mabuhay balls,’ act as probiotics for the river.
“These mud balls contain active microorganisms that break down toxins in the water, increase the amount of dissolved oxygen, and reduce fecal coliform bacteria,” he explained.
Additionally, DENR Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office Bataan chief Raul Mamac reported that participants also conducted a coastal cleanup in Barangay Puerto Rivas, collecting 110 kilograms of residual waste.
Pablo noted that the cleanup activity demonstrates the agency’s commitment to rapid environmental restoration.
“As custodians of our environment, we also act as architects of a sustainable future. It is up to us to embrace innovative solutions and to educate and empower our communities to take action,” he added.
These initiatives align with the observance of Philippine Environment Month in June, established by Presidential Proclamation No. 237, signed in 1988 by former President Corazon C. Aquino, and World Environment Day, observed every June 5. (CLJD/RPQ, PIA Region 3-Bataan)
