THE private operator of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and San Miguel Corp. (SMC) are working together to clean up rivers around the airport in a bid to ease flooding problems in Parañaque City.
“This is especially crucial with the onset of the rainy season as this addresses one of the major causes of urban flooding,” the New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) said in a statement.
So far, the initiative has already removed approximately 225,000 metric tons of trash across 4.8 kilometers of river channels and clogged waterways in the city.
The extensive clean-up drive resulted in a larger carrying capacity and enhanced outflow to Manila Bay, especially in sections previously made shallow and restricted by years of accumulated silts and wastes that clogged the waterways.
A substantial portion of the extracted waste—some 126,000 tons of silt and debris—came from a 3.3-km stretch of the Parañaque River.
Large volumes of wastes and silt were also removed from other waterways, including Don Galo River (46,000 tons), Villanueva Creek (27,000 tons), and San Dionisio Creek (25,000 tons).
In addition, the ongoing initiative also cleared clogged natural flood drains leading to Airport Creek, Cut-Cut Creek, Multinational Creek, and Libjo Creek. A total of 17,800 tons of garbage and silt were removed from around two kilometers of these specific waterways.
To further boost flood prevention efforts around the airport complex, SMC and NNIC also de-clogged drainage systems along Domestic Road and NAIA Road.
Parañaque councilor Jomar Trixie Valencia of Barangay Sto. Niño noted that before the clean-up, floods would rise quickly and subside slowly because riverbeds were essentially garbage dumps, impeding water flow.
Barangay captain Johnny Co is confident that people would stop improper waste disposal to end river pollution.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “NNIC, SMC clean up rivers around NAIA”
