The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has cleared over 387 tons of garbage from Manila Bay and other areas in the National Capital Region (NCR) following the devastating impact of Super Typhoon Carina and habagat.
The MMDA’s Environmental Management Division – Metro Parkways Clearing Group, responsible for maintaining cleanliness in NCR, worked alongside local government units and collected a total of 1,099 cubic meters or 90 truckloads of garbage during their five-day cleanup operations which ran from July 24-28.
Personnel from the government’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program also supported the MMDA in the cleanup operations.
In Muntinlupa City, the local government, MMDA personnel, and volunteers conducted a cleanup drive in the Tunasan River (Muntinlupa-San Pedro boundary).
“We requested assistance from the MMDA for the cleanup and were able to collect about 800 kilos of garbage, including bamboo and tree branches, and wood debris,” said Mayor Ruffy Biazon.
In San Juan City, the MMDA team removed four trucks of garbage from the streets of Barangay Balong Bato.
On its third day of operation, the MMDA collected more than 186 tons of garbage.
The MMDA urged the public to stop throwing garbage on the streets, especially during the rainy season, to prevent significant flooding in the metropolis, similar to the aftermath of Super Typhoon Carina, which left garbage on streets and waterways.
The agency emphasized that the washed-up garbage in the estuary and pumping stations indicated the lack of discipline in garbage disposal, which clogs waterways and ends up in the river and Manila Bay, affecting facility operation.
MMDA Chairman Romando Artes stated that the heavy downpour brought floods and traffic on major thoroughfares in Metro Manila, primarily due to canals and drainage systems full of garbage.
The MMDA chief asked the people to exercise discipline in managing their trash properly to prevent “a never-ending cycle.”
He also encourages people to reuse and recycle to reduce waste and prevent clogging of waterways.
