Administrative Order No. 16 Expediting the Rehabilitation and Restoration of the Coastal and Marine Ecosystem of the Manila Bay and Creating the Manila Bay Task Force.

This Administrative Order provides for the rehabilitation and restoration of the Coastal and Marine Ecosystem of the Manila Bay and creates the Manila Bay Task Force. The Task Force shall have the following powers and functions: enforce relevant provisions of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 856 or the "Code on Sanitation of the Philippines," as amended, RA No. 9275, and RA No. 9003 to ensure the complete rehabilitation, restoration and conservation of the Manila Bay; in accordance with PD No. 198 or the "Provincial Water Utilities Act," as amended, to improve sewerage systems or sewerage treatment plants (STPs), or to construct individual STPs, as well as to impose fines, penalties and other administrative sanctions; undertake remedial measures using engineering and technological interventions to improve the water quality of the Manila Bay, such as sustained and targeted reduction in the coliform level in all major river systems and tributaries with in the Manila Bay Region; collaborate with the National Anti-Poverty Commission, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, National Housing Authority (NHA) and affected LGUs, and within 60 days from the issuance of this Order, implement a plan for massive relocation of Informal Settler Families (ISFs), especially in the priority areas of the NCR along the Manila Bay Region; prepare a comprehensive plan for expediting the local sanitation program of LGUs within the Manila Bay Region by 2026; ensure that the concerned agencies and LGUs undertake appropriate measures relative to violation of environmental laws such as: demolition, cessation of business and/or filing of administrative action against erring persons or establishments; improve resource management of the Manila Bay, etc.