The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday implemented the government’s Oplan Kontra Baha initiative in Las Piñas City, focusing on the cleaning of Tartar Creek in Pamplona Tres and Talon Dos villages to enhance water flow and increase the capacity of the estero.
This initiative is part of the program introduced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday, which aims to eliminate waste and pollution from esteros and waterways.
MMDA Chairman Romando Artes, along with Las Piñas City Mayor April Aguilar, spearheaded the desilting and cleanup efforts in the waterway.
Artes said the cleanup operation demonstrates the collaborative effort of both the government and the community to maintain clean and orderly esteros, and improve water flow and help prevent flooding in Metro Manila.
By involving the community in cleanup activities, the government aspires to cultivate a sense of responsibility for maintaining clean waterways and preventing future pollution.
Mayor April Aguilar of Las Piñas City expressed her gratitude to the MMDA for this initiative, which exemplifies unity and the true essence of bayanihan.
During the operation, MMDA personnel, together with beneficiaries of TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers), gathered various forms of waste including plastic, bamboo, wood, plastic bottles, tree branches, and more.
The MMDA also distributed lily pots and charcoal briquettes made from water hyacinths processed at the water hyacinth processing facility in the city.
“The project aims to maintain the cleanliness of the creek and mitigate flooding, particularly since this area is recognized as one of the most flood-prone during the rainy season,” Artes said.
