MMDA reminds public: Don’t litter to prevent flooding

FILE PHOTO: A garbage pile sits at the intersection of Juan Luna and Ylaya Streets in Divisoria, Manila, after the holidays. PHOTO COURTESY OF ECOWASTE COALITION

MANILA, Philippines — As another typhoon approaches the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) urged Metro Manila residents to be disciplined in waste disposal.

“Sa araw-araw po na paglilinis namin, truck-truck po na basura ang nakukuha namin sa kanal kaya po again nanawagan ako na sana po ‘wag tayo magtapon indiscriminately ng basura dahil ‘yan ay nauuwi sa kanal at nagdudulot po ng pagbaha,” MMDA acting chair Don Artes said in an interview over TeleRadyo.

(In our daily cleaning, we collect truckloads of garbage from the canal, so again I appeal that we do not throw trash indiscriminately because that ends up in the canal and causes flooding.)

Artes said the MMDA cleans Metro Manila’s sewers and estuaries year-round to prevent flooding during storms.

“Unfortunately, kailangan lang po siguro, at ako po ay nanawagan sa ating mga kababayan, ng konting disiplina sa pagtatapon ng basura kasi po napakalawak po ng Metro Manila, hindi po namin kayang linisin palagi lagi ‘yung mga kanal na ‘yan dahil kulang po ‘yung ating personnel,” said Artes.

(Unfortunately, maybe what we need, and I’m calling on our fellow countrymen, is to have a little discipline in the disposal of garbage because Metro Manila is so vast, we can’t always clean those sewers because our personnel are limited.)

Super Typhoon Mawar is projected to enter the PAR this weekend and bring heavy rain to Northern Luzon, while the weather disturbance is expected to drag the southwest monsoon toward the southern parts of Luzon and Visayas by Sunday, May 29.

READ: Super Typhoon Mawar may whip up monsoon rain in Luzon, Visayas next week

Super Typhoon Mawar further intensified on Friday morning as it nears the PAR and the state weather bureau said it may reach its peak fury within 24 to 36 hours.

Mawar, which will be named “Betty” once it enters the PAR, was last spotted 1,740 kilometers east of Southeastern Luzon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

According to Pagasa, Mawar had peak sustained winds of 215 kph and maximum gusts of 265 kph.

Expect tropical cyclone wind signals to be raised in the coming days, Pagasa also said.

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