Chairman Danilo Lim of the Metro Manila Development Authority has urged community leaders and local government units to unite to address the garbage problem and clogged waterways that cause massive flooding in the metropolis.
Lim made the appeal during the inspection of Estero de Magdalena in Tondo, Manila on Monday.
“We will coordinate with the local government units, city and barangay officials. We will schedule ‘Bayanihan Days’ where everyone in the community will participate in the cleanup operations as often as needed,” said Lim.
The term Bayanihan is a Filipino custom and refers to the spirit of communal work and cooperation to reach a common goal.
“With the cooperation of the community, we believe our efforts will help eradicate the causes of flooding in their areas. We will involve everyone in the cleanup,” said Lim.
During the inspection, Lim expressed dismay over the amount of garbage clogging the Estero de Magdalena despite the agency’s relentless cleanup operations.
“Every day, our workers go down the drainage and waterways just to haul these garbage,” said Lim.
Garbage come from informal settlers, public markets and hospitals nearby, Lim said.
Workers of the MMDA said the estero was cleared of garbage and silt last Thursday.
Only after four days, the 800 meters-long estero was already filled with all sorts of garbage again.
Lim said drone footage exposed virtually unreachable parts of the estero, due to mushrooming informal settlers along the waterway.
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