PASIG CITY, Oct. 8 (PIA)-- The City Government of Pasig was hailed as the winner of the 2018 Regional MANILA BAYani for the highly urbanized category.

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, together with key city officials received the citation from the Department of Interior and Local Government-National Capital Region (DILG-NCR) Regional Director Maria Lourdes Agustin and DILG Pasig City Director Visitacion Martinez last September 23, 2019.

The city received a score of 93.33% besting the other cities in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Mayor Sotto received a plaque of recognition and Php200,000.00 cash incentive which they intend to utilize for the establishment of Eco Patrol on Motorcycle that will be used in monitoring and managing the City's solid waste management concerns.

According to DILG-NCR Regional Director Ma. Lourdes Agustin, the MANILA BAYani award is given to LGUs who excelled based on the results of the Environmental Compliance Audit (ECA), an assessment tool developed by DILG to measure compliance of LGUs to RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. It also takes into consideration remarkable practices for waste management and environment protection.

Launched in 2014, Manila BAYani covers LGUs in the Manila Bay Area from Regions 3, 4A and NCR, as part of the efforts in intensifying the implementation of the Supreme Court Mandamus for the rehabilitation and preservation of the Manila Bay. The audit is conducted annually by the DILG, in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Environmental Management Bureau, Department of Health, Metro Manila Development Authority, and Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Solid Waste Management. (DILG-NCR)