THE Metro Manila Development Authority continues to undertake preemptive anti-flood measure in the National Capital Region with the goal of completing its cleanup operation of all clogged creeks and open waterways before the rainy season begins.
The latest “Estero Cleanup” operation was conducted by the MMDA Flood Control and Sewerage Management Service team Saturday morning at the Ermitanio Creek in San Juan City.
“Our priority is not just about traffic. Flood control and clearing all the esteros in Metro Manila is also one of our mandates,” said MMDA general manager and acting chairman Thomas Orbos.
He said the cleanup operation in San Juan was made in cooperation with personnel from the departments of Health, and Environment and Natural Resources and local officials in the city headed by Mayor Guia Gomez.
The MMDA resumed the campaign in cleaning up clogged creeks and open waterways to prevent severe floods in the metropolis in the run up to the rainy season in June.
Among the clogged creeks and open waterways identified and are scheduled to be cleared by the agency from March to July are:
Pasig River Basin in Port Area, Manila; Estero de San Miguel, Estero de Quiapo, Estero de Magdalena, and Estero de Maypajo also in Manila;
Lapu-Lapu/Spine Open Canal and Letre Open Canal in Malabon City; Pasong Malapad Creek and the lagoon in Caloocan City; Waling-Waling Creek and Tanque Creek, Sta. Lucia Creek and Villa Creek in Quezon City; Pinagkatdan Creek in Pasig City;
Balanti Creek in Marikina City; Pinagsama Creek in Taguig City; Sto. Rosario-Silangan River in Pateros; Estero Tripa de Gallina–Buendia Outfall in Makati City; Sto. Nino Creek in Pasay City; Dahlig Creek in Las Piñas City; Pasong Diablo River in Muntinlupa City;
Coastal Open Canal in Parañaque City; and Libertad Retarding Pone in at Libertad Pumping Station in Pasay City.
Armed with heavy equipment, such as crane, dump trucks and spider backhoe, the MMDA men have started cleaning up the creeks.
Some MMDA men had to use small boats or bancas to fish out the floating debris and refuse from the waterways.
“We have to do this periodically to maximize the conveyance capacity of our open waterways in anticipation of the forthcoming rainy season,” said Orbos.
The MMDA attributed the problem from residents and informal settlers living along and near the creek.
With this regular clean up, the MMDA is expecting that floods in low lying areas of Metro Manila would quickly subside after heavy rainfall.
The campaign also aimed to maximize the “conveyance capacity” of open waterways in Metro Manila to enable it to accommodate larger volume of floodwaters during the rainy season, thus hastening the flood receding rate and minimizing flooding.
The program is also part of the agency’s efforts towards urban renewal and disaster mitigation.
The government is planning to build more pumping stations and repair other existing facilities this year after the National Economic and Development Authority approved a P22 billion project to address the perennial flooding in Metro Manila and neighboring areas.