MMDA still clearing esteros

MANILA, Philippines - With the onset of the rainy season, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is working doubly hard to clear the esteros or waterways of Metro Manila in line with its flood control plan.

MMDA Flood Control and Sewerage Management Office Director Emma Quiambao said the agency is continuing its “Estero Blitz” program indefinitely despite an earlier announcement that the program would end June 6.

Quiambao said the MMDA from April 4 until June 6 has collected 1,159 truckloads or seven tons of trash from creeks in Metro Manila. From June 6 until Sunday, another 200 truckloads of garbage were collected by the MMDA.

Quiambao said most of the trash collected were plastic and Styrofoam materials mixed with the muck.

For his part, MMDA Assistant General Manager for Operations Emerson Carlos added that also collected from the waterways were debris from construction sites and garbage thrown by restaurants.

According to Quiambao, their cleanup program will now concentrate on around 20 “lateral drains” on roads which will be cleared through manholes.

"Itutuloy po namin ang estero blitz na ito. Yun mga downstream po ay nakuhanan na namin halos. Ngayon dito naman kami sa paakyat, magdedrain kami doon. Karamihan sa mga drainage, yung mga lateral, mga nasa gilid ng kalsada at mga nasa mismong kalye, mga manholes. Yun ang aming bubuksan, gamit ang crane at backhoe. Nasa 20 na lugar po un," she said

Quiambao said that because of the clearing of esteros, flood water in the flood-prone areas such as España Boulevard in Manila and Balintawak in Quezon City have been quick to subside.

Quiambao also said all 54 pumping stations maintained by the MMDA were operational, with the needed diesel fuel in good supply.

"Yung mga nagdaang araw ay merong mga kaunting mga pagbaha kamukha noong doon sa España kami po ay natutuwa at talagang patuloy naming lilinisin. So tuloy tuloy po ang daloy ng tubig dito sa may España. Ibig sabihin po noon, may konting pagbaha, pero mabilis na nagsusubside, minutes lang po, hindi na inaabot ng 30 minutes. Tuloy-tuloy na po ang flow ng baha. Ang mga tao po namin ay concentrated sa paglilinis," she said.