MMDA clears Metro streets of toppled trees

MANILA, Philippines - Personnel from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) were kept busy yesterday as they cleared Metro Manila’s streets of trees toppled by typhoon “Santi.”

At around 4 a.m. yesterday, personnel from the MMDA’s Road Clearing Group, led by Boy Franco, were dispatched to clear toppled trees and fallen branches along Timog and Quezon Avenues, Sucat Road, the corner of Osmeña Highway and Quirino Avenue, Kalayaan Avenue, Araneta Avenue, Airport Road, and Abad Santos.

“Using tools for road clearing and personnel, we were able to untangle the major thoroughfares of these kinds of road obstructions and able to restore the smooth flow of traffic in no time,” MMDA general manager Robert Nacianceno said.

He later conducted an ocular inspection of the cleared streets with Traffic Operations Center Angelito Vergel de Dios and Road Emergency Group Director Ramon Santiago.

“There were also minor floods monitored by our team, but these quickly subsided and did not at all hamper the flow of traffic,” Nacianceno said.

The MMDA monitored two-feet deep floods in Buting, Santolan, Kalawaan, Manggahan, San Joaquin and Bambang in Pasig City; T.M. Kalaw, U.N. Avenue, Pedro Gil, Vito Cruz, Roxas Boulevard and Dimasalang in Manila; Gil Puyat in Makati; Del Monte, Juan Luna, Balete, Araneta Avenue, and Sto. Domingo in Quezon City; and Olivares Drive to Sucat in Parañaque City.    – Mike Frialde