The Las Piñas City government has expressed gratitude for the San Miguel Corporation’s (SMC) Better Rivers Philippines waterway clean-up team for voluntarily desilting and cleaning the Las Piñas and Zapote rivers.
Mayor April Aguilar described this initiative as a “significant advancement in enhancing flood control,” restoring ecological balance, and ensuring the rehabilitation of rivers within the city.
SMC chairman and chief executive Ramon Ang said the river clean-up project in Las Piñas began on Sept. 1 have commenced their work on the Las Piñas River, beginning at its mouth in Manila Bay and progressing upstream.
This initiative was undertaken at the request of the city government, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
In just over a month, the team removed more than 30,000 tons of silt and trash from a 280-meter stretch where the water flows into Manila Bay. This also facilitates the establishment of an access channel for equipment to reach upstream locations.
A bathymetric survey was performed to assess the river’s depth profile and to identify areas heavily affected by silt. Both the bathymetric survey and visual inspection at the river’s mouth revealed the heavy presence if silt and debris. Half of the river channel within the first two kilometers moving upstream has become significantly shallow.
At the Pulanglupa Bridge, a water pipeline and trash traps with considerable solid waste accumulation were also observed obstructing the river channel.
“We are just in the beginning stages of the clean-up of the Las Piñas River, but rest assured to our kababayans in Las Piñas — we will do our very best. We will continue working with the local government, to make sure this major river is cleared and flowing properly. This is not an easy task, so we ask for both your patience and cooperation — so that we, especially our teams on the ground, can do our part to help ease flooding in your city,” Ang said.
