Lacuna urges cleanup of waterways

Manila Vice Mayor Danilo Lacuna urged barangay officials to strictly enforce the ban on dumping of garbage in rivers and canals to unclog waterways and prevent floods during rainy days.

Lacuna is preparing a resolution that would compel barangay officials to strictly enforce the ban on dumping of garbage in local waterways because it would worsen the flood and pollution problem in the country and also lead to an outbreak of diseases.

He said now that they have resumed the session of the city council for 2007, he would file the resolution to direct all barangays in the city to enact measures to combat the rampant dumping of garbage in the city’s tributaries.

The community leaders should not turn a blind eye on the malpractice of throwing trash in the open waterways because they are eyesores and contribute to the pollution.

He expressed concern over the health threat if they would allow these illegal practice to continue.

Residents, particularly those who live near the waterways, could suffer from diarrhea, H-fever, malaria, dengue and skin diseases.

"Our barangay leaders need to set an example to their constituents that dumping garbage on these waterways is something that is illegal and punishable by the law," Lacuna added.

He is also open to the idea of seeking the assistance of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to help clean the Pasig River, Manila Bay and connecting tributaries.

The pollution problem has become alarming that several private companies had made it part of their advocacy to clean up the waterways particularly Manila Bay.

Their clean up drive usually results in the collection of several trucks of garbage from Manila Bay.

The city government has also succeeded in transferring hundreds of families, who reside along the banks of Pasig River to the Cardinal Sin’s Village in Punta, Sta. Ana.

An official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) earlier said the government needs P1.3 trillion to clean up Pasig River. They estimate that there are at least 12,000 informal settlers residing along the riverbanks that throw garbage into the waterways everyday.