The Metro Manila Development Authority has renewed its call to the public to refrain from dumping their wastes into waterways in order to prevent floods during the rainy season.
The agency made the statement following its cleanup operations in various waterways after heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon caused floods in different parts of Metro Manila last week.
“Dear fellow Filipinos, especially those living near rivers, let us please not dump our solid waste just anywhere,” MMDA Flood Control and Sewerage Management Director Baltazar Melgar said on Sunday.”
“This week, our flood control personnel are cleaning our waterways which have been collecting garbage, so that when the rains return, we will be prepared,” Melgar added.
He said huge volumes of waste in clogged waterways hinder the function of pumping stations, making it harder for them to absorb water from the Manila Bay and the Pasig River, especially during heavy rains.
“While operating the pumping stations we collect two truckloads of garbage because uncollected garbage is carried by the current to the pumping stations,” Melgar said.
In 2002, the formulation and implementation of flood control functions were transferred from the Department of Public Works and Highways to the MMDA. These include cleanup of waterways and maintenance of pumping stations.
The DPWH, meanwhile, remains in charge of the construction of flood control infrastructure.
In May, the MMDA installed electric motor-driven pumps in 12 out of its 54 pumping stations in the metropolis, with each engine being able to pump 350 drums of floodwater per second.
