Neighborhood toughies urged to help in cleanliness campaign

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando renewed his call yesterday to neighborhood toughies to help keep their barangays clean and prevent flooding at the onset of the rainy season.

"I’m referring to the good toughies and not the ones with tattoos of eagles on their chests and just drink all day," Fernando said in Filipino over his weekly radio show on radio station dzBB.

Fernando said the good bullies or maton in the vernacular, are "natural leaders" in the communities who can make their neighbors follow their example.

"Marami pa sa kanila ang nahahalal na barangay captains (Many of them are even elected as village chiefs)," Fernando said.

Fernando said the MMDA would turn Metro Manila’s dirtiest barangays into model barangays by helping them keep their surroundings clean.

Fernando did not name the barangays but they were identified after the recently-concluded search for the cleanest and dirtiest barangays.

The MMDA cleans drainage and waterways throughout the year to lessen the floodings but noted that the people’s own irresponsibility and lack of civic consciousness are the main obstacles on the agency’s efforts.

The MMDA observed that it would clean up an area only to find it filled with garbage after a week.

MMDA Deputy Chairman and concurrent flood control program head, Cesar Lacuna, said that this year, the agency aims to lessen floodings in the metropolis by 25 percent. This was on top of the 25 percent reduction in the number of floodings last year.

"This does not include Northern Metro Manila and the portions of Pasig, Taguig, and Pateros. There is a different flood control program for these areas," Lacuna said, referring to the dikes being constructed in the said areas.

While portions of Metro Manila continued to experience floodings during the rainy season last year, the MMDA noted that water quickly subsided unlike in the previous years.

Aside from the continued clean up operations, the MMDA is now thinking of improving drainage systems and putting diversion canals in perennially flooded areas.