Cleaners at flooded pumping stations plead: Throw your garbage properly

Garbage blocking pumping stations has aggravated flooding problems in Metro Manila, and the MMDA personnel tasked to remove it are pleading with Filipinos to dispose of their trash properly.

According to Saleema Refran's television report on "24 Oras" on Thursday, MMDA workers collected 21 cubic meters of trash from Tripa de Gallina pumping station in Pasay since the monsoon rains enhanced by Typhoon Fabian hit Metro Manila this week.

All types of garbage including bottles, plastic waste, wood and even a wooden bench were removed from the machine.

Allan Tubao, MMDA plant engineer, said the pumping station has effectively become a dumpsite, which has affected its capacity to prevent flooding in the metropolis.

Marvin Medina, another MMDA employee, would become extra careful when catching the heavy garbage that could damage the pump.

"Sana po magtapon sa tamang tapunan ng basura kasi mahirap magtanggal sa tubig. [I hope they would throw their trash properly because it is difficult to remove them from the water]," Medina said.

Due to incessant rains, gutter-deep flood waters were seen on Andrews Avenue in Pasig.

Some children were also gliding through a ramp  at the Plaza located along Roxas Avenue in Quezon City.

Flooding, however, did not stop Metro Manila residents from going to vaccination sites.

Aside from continuous rains, flooding was also caused by the temporary suspension of operations of drainage in Padre Faura, Remedios and Estero de San Antonio Abad.

Engineer Baltazar Melgar explained that the Department of Public Works and Highways as well as the Department of Environment (DENR) are conducting infrastructure works.

"Nakasara po kasi yung outfalls na yan kasi ginagawa po ng DPWH yung pumping station saka yung discharge pipe. Pero nagkasundo na ang DPWH saka DENR na i-operate na yung pump kahit hindi pa natapos 'yung discharge pipe na 'yan," said Melgar.

[Outfalls are closed because DPWH is fixing the pumping station and drainage pipe. But the DPWH and DENR already agreed to open the pump even as the work on the drainage pipe is still not completed.]

"Starting yesterday, nag-operate na sila [they have been in operation]," he added.

State weather bureau PAGASA recently hoisted Signal No. 1 over Babuyan and Batanes due to Fabian. In the next 24 hours, Ilocos Region, Abra, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and the northern portion of Palawan including Calamian and Kalayaan Islands will experience monsoon rains due to the southwest monsoon being enhanced by Fabian. — Consuelo Marquez/BM, GMA News