The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has intensified its clean-up operation in waterways through ‘Bayanihan sa Estero’ to mitigate heavy flooding in some parts of Metro Manila. 

The MMDA, together with the Caloocan Local Government Unit (LGU), conducted a clean-up operation at Maligaya Creek in Barangay 120, Caloocan City, Wednesday morning. 

MMDA workers, together with Caloocan LGU and Estero Rangers from DENR, collected piles of trash floating on the creek. 

"Hindi naman natin ito ngayong lang ginagawa, araw-araw ito. Whole year round ginagawa na iro. Alam naman natin na ang area na ito ay low-lying area talagang hindi maiwasan ang pagbaha kinakailangan lang natin mabawasan,” Procopio Lipana, MMDA General Manager, said. 

"Malaki po ang tubig na dumadaan sa Maligaya Creek at kung makikita niyo paliko-liko siya, so hindi maiiwasang mag-overflow yung creek.Isa po talaga ito sa unang nililinis namin sa tulong ng MMDA at ng ibang national agencies para madeclog siya bago dumating ang tag-ulan,” Aurora Ciego, Caloocan City Administrator, said. 

According to MMDA, the ‘Bayanihan sa Estero’ is part of the flood mitigating measures of the agency. 

Residents in the area feared the heavy flooding brought by the clogged waterway. 

"Ay mataas, lagpas, first floor doon. Kaya nga 'yung bangka inilapit nila roon para pasakayin malapit sa bahay. Nung sakay na kaming dalawa, pagdating dito tumaob. Napailalim kami,” Julieta Basco, resident of Barangay 120, said.

"Nasakluban kami ng rubber boat. Akala namin patay na kami. Hinimatay pa ko roon,” said barangay resident Josefina Dizon.

The local government unit is trying to find a concrete solution to the flooding in the area. 

"Dahil sa ilang barangay ang pinanggagalingan ng basura, 'yun po 'yung hindi namin macontrol, 'yung pagdating ng basura. Sana magkaroon ng pag-uusap 'yung mga barangay na dito po nakalinya na may sakop po para matulungan kami, para doon pa lang sakanila magkaroon ng control,” said Antonio Duran, chairman of barangay 120. 

Caloocan LGU has already implemented an ordinance wherein violators who are caught throwing garbage in restricted areas pay a fine of up to P1000 or render a community service to the barangay.

"Hanggang nagtatapon, may lilinisin tayo, pag walang nagtapon, walang lilinisin. Hikayatin natin ang mga kababayan na maging responsable sa pagtatapon ng kanilang basura,” said Lipana. 

"Sana ang paglilinis nila tuloy-tuloy, hindi 'yun bang after a month..'yung basura namin dito abot-abot. Kahit na every two weeks ano, every week. Kabado. Kasi kagaya nung nangyari last year. Grabe,” said Myrna Gemzon, resident of the barangay. 

Almost 50 tons of garbage, which is equivalent to 24 dump trucks, were collected from the cleanup operation that started last weekend. 

MMDA assured the public that the operation to clean the waterways will continue all year round.