The agency’s efforts to prevent flooding in Manila, he said, would be futile if the residents continue to treat the creeks, canals and rivers as a big dumpsite.
"Ang hiling po ay wag na lang kayo magtapon ng dumi (I am appealing to residents not to throw their garbage)," Fernando said in a radio interview.
MMDA Undersecretary Cesar Lacuna said the bulk of Manila’s trash was taken from the waterways in Quirino, Ermita, Ramon Magsaysay Avenue, España and Dimasalang.
About 250 tons of the daily collected garbage is hauled from Manila’s waterways. The remaining 250 tons are from the 16 other cities and municipalities in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Although Fernando admitted that the size of Manila’s population is one factor to consider for the huge quantity of waste, he said that "there are also lapses in the garbage collection system of the city government."
The MMDA official stressed the importance of implementing a "door-to-door" policy in garbage collection and identifying a common dumpsite. Otherwise, he said residents would place their uncollected trash near waterways or vacant lots. "The dogs and cats could easily tear open the plastic bags and scatter the garbage everywhere."
In jest, Fernando said that people carelessly throwing their trash on the streets should be apprehended. "Every city and municipality have adopted an anti-littering ordinance, the only difference is the fine imposed."
But Fernando lauded local and national candidates in the last elections who responded to MMDA’s appeal to help remove the campaign posters. "So far, the major thoroughfares in Metro Manila are 80 percent clean of posters."
"Hopefully, we would finish the clean-up this week since the canvassing was already finished in many areas and the winning candidates could pull out their poll watchers to help in the clean-up drive," he added.
The MMDA chairman particularly cited re-electionist Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and former Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II for sending their supporters to clean the streets.