MMDA hauls 53 tons of trash from Pasig River

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has removed 53 tons or 151 cubic meters of garbage from the Pasig River since January this year, despite efforts to keep trash from ending up in the river.

Among the waste gathered were water hyacinth, polystyrene, plastic bottles and food wrappers. The MMDA deploys trash skimmer boats to collect the garbage.

Most of the trash can be seen in parts of the Pasig River under the Metro Manila Skyway in Pandacan and near the Lambingan ferry station in Manila.

The agency vowed it would “regularly” clean up the Pasig River as part of the “Pasig Bigyang Buhay Muli” to make the river viable for transportation, recreation and tourism.

Garbage floating in the Pasig River had become a problem for operators of boats in the MMDA’s Pasig River Ferry Service, causing journeys to last up to two hours instead of the usual one and a half hours’ trip from Pasig to Escolta station in Manila.

Ferry personnel said a foul odor, which they attributed to sludge from the river bottom, was often detected during the hot season when the water level drops.

The ferry rides have remained free of charge for commuters since the service – which brings passengers to the cities of Pasig, Mandaluyong, Makati and Manila crossed by the Pasig River – reopened in December 2019. The ferry service has also attracted foreigners.