8,000 MMDA volunteers clear 8 Metro waterways

Monday’s intermittent rains failed to dampen the spirits of some 8,000 Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) volunteers tasked with clearing eight waterways in the metropolis to help prevent flooding.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the cleanup drive was an offshoot of the agency’s Flood Control Bayanihan Zone Alliances program, which utilizes volunteers from the military, MMDA, local government units and barangays.

“Even for just one day, we would like the public to see that we at the MMDA are very serious and dedicated to keeping our environment clean and we’re hoping that this will inspire them to do the same,” Tolentino said.

The cluster areas the MMDA cleared were the Sampaloc Area/R. Papa in Manila; Makati Diversion Channel/South Superhighway in Makati City; Maysilo Circle, Boni Avenue, Kalentong, New Panaderos, Shaw Boulevard and Acacia Lane in Mandaluyong City; Barangays (villages) Salapan and Balong Bato in San Juan City; and Doña Imelda, Damayan Lagi, Tatalon and Talayan in Quezon City.

Tolentino said he hoped the cleanup would inspire residents to be careful about disposing of their trash so that these would not end up clogging waterways and lead to floods.

Over the agency’s weekly radio program, MMDA General Manager Corazon Jimenez said that during the cleanup, the volunteers collected garbage like used refrigerators, old mattresses, even dead animals.

In a phone patch interview, Tolentino said the volunteers who cleared a waterway in Barangay Salapan, San Juan, had to do it by hand since they could not bring in their heavy equipment through the narrow alleys leading to the area.

After the cleanup in San Juan, Tolentino proceeded to Tatalon and Talayan in Quezon City to meet with Mayor Herbert Bautista and kick off the waterway clearing operations.