Can Pasay creeks be saved?

A cleanup of two creeks crucial to flood control in Pasay City collected about 100 tons of garbage within three hours Saturday morning. “We got the usual trash, mostly plastic bags thrown by informal settlers living along the waterways,” said Manny Geslani, a member of the Rotary Chapter of the Pasay Centro and one of about a hundred volunteers who scoured Maricaban and Tripa de Gallina creeks starting 6 a.m. The cleanup drew participants from the Rotarians, various government agencies and private companies including Maynilad. Saturday’s effort launched the Rotary Club’s “Save Estero Tripa de Gallina” campaign, which is ultimately a flood-mitigation initiative that can also benefit the neighboring cities of Manila, Makati, and Parañaque. The estero serves as a natural drain for rainwater from Paco and San Andres in Manila, Forbes Park in Makati, flowing through Pasay and Parañaque and out to Manila Bay via a river outlet near Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Caloocan land row: 26 arrested for building ‘takeover’

Twenty-six men were arrested in Caloocan City early Saturday for allegedly barging into a two-story building and detaining five employees in connection with a property dispute. City police chief Senior Supt. Bernard Tambaoan said the men, from whom four pistols were later seized, reportedly worked for Danilo Bonifacio, a claimant of the land where the Paradigm Development Inc. building owned by Anthony Go stood. The men faced charges for trespassing, illegal detention and illegal possession of firearms after forcing their way into the building around 9 p.m. Friday, Tambaoan said. A call from Go prompted a police “rescue operation.” No shots were fired and the men were arrested around 1 a.m. Kristine Felisse Mangunay

Good Shepherd Parish in Las Piñas turns 28

“I am the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep and mine know me.” Assured by these words of Christ, the congregation of the Good Shepherd Parish in Pamplona Tres, Las Piñas City, celebrates the 28th anniversary of the parish Sunday (May 11), an occasion made more special by the blessing at 9 a.m. of the recently renovated and refurbished mortuary chapel. The concelebrated fiesta Mass follows and will be presided over by Bishop Jesse Mercado DD, together with priests from the Society of African Missions (SMA). Leading the flock’s celebration is Fr. Gus O’Driscoll, SMA, the parish priest who has been a key figure in keeping church facilities, including the seven chapels, well-kept for the spiritual nourishment of the parishioners.