108,980 kilos of solid waste cleared from Makati

MANILA, Philippines - Some 108,980 kilograms of solid waste were cleared by the Makati Task Force Waterways led by the Makati Department of Environmental Services (DES) during the clean-up of the city’s waterways from January to last month.

In a report to Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay, DES chief Danilo Villas said the five-month clean-up covered 31,260 linear meters of waterways traversing 21 barangays in both city districts.

Villas said most of the waste matter cleared from the creeks and canals were dried leaves, paper, recyclables such as plastic bottles, tarpaulin banners, aluminun cans, used clothes, used shoes, and wiring materials.

Villas cited the active participation of barangay officials and residents in the clean-up activities as key to the sustainability of the year-round activity that the city government started in 2011.

“We largely attribute to our barangay leaders and residents the success of this project, which aims to contribute to the regionwide effort to restore the water quality in Manila Bay to at least Class B to be fit for humans to swim in,” he said.

Barangays that participated in the waterways clean-up drives during the first five months of the year were Cembo, Dasmarinas, East Rembo, Forbes, Guadalupe Nuevo, Kasilawan, La Paz, Olympia, Pembo, Pio Del Pilar, Pitogo, Rizal, San Antonio, San Isidro, San Lorenzo, South Cembo, Post Proper Southside, Singkamas, Sta. Cruz, Tejeros, and West Rembo.
Makati Task Force Waterways was formed in July 2011 to formulate and implement the Makati Waterways Management Action Plan, in line with the Supreme Court Mandamus for all national and local government agencies and units in Metro Manila to clean up, rehabilitate and preserve Manila Bay.  

The task force is composed of the DES, City Council, Office of the City Administrator, Law Department, Urban Development Department, Makati Health Department, Makati Social Welfare Department, Liga ng mga Barangay, Department of Engineering and Public Works/Office of the Building Official, DILG-Makati, Budget Department, Human Resource Development Office, Information and Community Relations Department, Makati Police, and the two water concessionaires, Manila Water and Maynilad.

Cleared by the task force were Tripa De Gallina; Sanzibar Creek; Pinos Creek; Bangkal Creek; Calatagan Creek; Camachile Creek; Pasig River; Taguig-Pateros Creek; Maricaban Creek; San Jose Creek; Makati Diversion Channel; Ayala Creek; Amorsolo Creek; Sta Clara Creek; PNR Creek; Balisampan Creek; San Jose Creek and San Lorenzo Creek.