Month-long estero cleanup starts

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will start its month-long estero (waterway) cleanup program today. Dubbed the “August estero blitz,” the program aims to clean up at least two waterways in the metropolis every day until Sept. 8.

The cleanup, which will be spearheaded by MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino, will kick off at 6 a.m. at the Tripa de Gallina creek and Estero de Sta. Clara.

About 50 personnel from the agency’s Metro Parkway Clearing Group and Flood Control and Sewerage Management Office will be deployed. The program will cover 69,766 meters of waterways in the 16 cities and one municipality comprising Metro Manila. In a statement, the MMDA said the program was conceptualized after a 480-minute cleanup of eight flood-prone areas in the metropolis last July 24.