Gov’t agencies discuss anti-flood measures

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MANILA, Philippines — A party list lawmaker on Sunday called on the public to practice the basics of proper waste disposal in preventing floods, which are expected to be brought by the La Niña phenomenon.

In a statement, 1-Rider party list Rep. Roman Rodrigo Gutierrez highlighted the importance of proper garbage disposal, stressing it was among the key solutions to prevent and mitigate flooding in most parts of the country.

READ: Romualdez will meet with gov’t agencies on La Niña preparations

Gutierrez attended Speaker Martin Romualdez’s meeting with national agency heads on Tuesday, where flood-mitigating measures ahead of La Niña were discussed.

Present at the meeting were officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of the Interior and Local Government and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

READ: Are we ready for La Niña?

He said that the officials in the meeting agreed that short-term preventive measures should also be undertaken, particularly an information campaign on the importance of proper garbage disposal, noting, “It seems to be the primary concern of the MMDA. Garbage disposal really has a big effect.”

Gutierrez said it was mentioned in the meeting about involving the Department of Labor and Employment and its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers, or TUPAD program.

He explained, “They hope to leverage it and turn it into a cleaning and greening program,” pointing out that the MMDA had attributed flooding to drainage systems getting clogged up by improperly disposed waste. —Jeannette I. Andrade