MMDA to conduct eight-hour Metro-wide cleanup

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will lead a multi-agency task force that will conduct an eight-hour cleanup of creeks and drainages in the eight flood-prone areas of Metro Manila on Sunday.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said about 5,000 MMDA personnel, military reservists, cadets of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) and police officers from the National Capital Region Police Office will join the cleanup drive. He said they would also need at least 10,000 volunteers.

“Even for just one day, we would like the public to see that we at the MMDA are very serious and dedicated to keeping our environment clean, and we’re hoping that this will inspire them to do the same,” he said.

The cleanup drive will start at 8 a.m. up to 5 p.m., with the MMDA workforce to be divided in eight flood control bayanihan zones – Sampaloc Area/R.Papa in Manila; Makati Diversion Channel/South Superhighway in Makati City; Maysilo Circle, Boni Avenue, Kalentong, New Panaderos, Shaw Boulevard and Acacia Lane in Mandaluyong City; Barangays Salapan and Balong Bato, San Juan City; and Doña Imelda, Damayan Lagi, Tatalon and Talayan in Quezon City.

“We’re gathering our workforce for an eight-hour or 480 minutes of massive cleanup of our esteros and other waterways, and we’re hoping this will help drum up awareness and caring for the environment and waterways,” Tolentino said.

He said the “480 Minutes Cleanup Drive” will be conducted in observance of the National Disaster Consciousness  Month, to increase public awareness of the threats of disaster and for a better appreciation of the government’s disaster preparedness program.