9 Metro esteros yield 685 truckloads of trash

A discarded sofa, a baby crib and tire rubbers were among the garbage picked up by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) which has so far collected 685 truckloads from nine esteros (creeks) since March 1.

Under its yearly estero blitz program, the MMDA will clean up 27 Metro waterways until July 26 in preparation for the rainy season.

Noel Santos of the MMDA Flood Control and Sewerage Management Service on Sunday said that styropor from fast food chains topped the volume of trash and silt.

A total of 4,772 cubic meters have so far been collected from Estero Tripa de Gallina; Estero de San Miguel; Estero de Magdalena; Estero de Quiapo; Estero de Maypajo; Estero de San Sebastian; and Roxas Canal in Manila; Tanigue Creek in Caloocan City; and the Libertad retarding pond in Pasay City.

As part of its procedure, the MMDA notifies the barangay concerned before conducting a clean-up operation. It sends a letter afterward directing local officials in the area to maintain the waterway’s cleanliness or else, they will face charges.
Six barangay officials have so far been sued by the MMDA in the Office of the Ombudsman for not doing their part.