FIVE local government units (LGUs) in Central Luzon have been conferred the Manila Bayani Awards by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The recognitions were a result of significant efforts and contributions of the LGUs in the cleanup and rehabilitation of the Manila Bay area. Balanga in Bataan and Palayan in Nueva Ecija were among the cities that were given awards while the other three recipients were Sasmuan town and the Environment and Natural Resources Office of the provincial government of Pampanga and Marilao in Bulacan. Acting Environment Secretary Jim Sampulna lauded the LGU awardees for exerting efforts to help the agency in the massive cleanup of major river systems and tributaries within the Manila Bay area in the region. 'Congratulations to all the awardees. With your relentless support, we will ultimately win this battle for Manila Bay,' he said during the awarding ceremony. DENR Regional Executive Director Paquito Moreno Jr. thanked their partner LGUs for continuously supporting the Manila Bay rehabilitation program. 'It is through our strategic partnership and collective efforts that we have been able to execute activities that brought significant contributions and progress in our rehabilitation efforts,' he said. Moreno added that among such efforts include daily cleanup drives, grubbing, trash trap installation, and establishment of toilet facilities. The Manila BAYani Awards aims to recognize LGUs, groups, and individuals that have shown exemplary and innovative strategies in the implementation of the Manila Bay cleanup and rehabilitation program. Since the massive cleanup of the Manila Bay started in 2019, over 280,000 tons of waste have been collected from more than 37,000 river and coastal cleanups in the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and Tarlac.