MMDA resumes quarterly Estero Blitz cleanup

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority resumed Monday its quarterly cleanup of creeks (esteros) and other waterways in the metropolis to prevent flooding.

 

MMDA teams hauled several truckloads of garbage on Monday from the Estero De Vitas and Estero Kabulusan in Pritil District, Tondo as part of the Estero Blitz program led by Chairman Francis Tolentino.

 

“We hope we can help each other in this cleanup activity. The simplest contribution is to stop the indiscriminate dumping of litter and use of plastic which clog our waterways,” Tolentino said.

 

Tolentino led the cleanup and dredging operations at the two said esteros in Tondo which are both heavily silted.

 

Tolentino also met with Tondo barangay officials and urged them to pass barangay ordinances banning the use of plastic materials.

 

Launched in August 2011, the Estero Blitz program involves the daily cleanup of esteros, creeks, and drainages in flood-prone areas in Metro Manila to prevent flooding when it rains.

 

The MMDA said it will deploy this February at least 500 personnel from the Flood Control Management and Sewerage Office, Metro Parkway Clearing Group, and Solid Waste Management Office for the cleanup operations.

 

A total of nine esteros, five creeks, and two rivers in the cities of Manila, Makati, Pasay, Parañaque, and Muntinlupa covering 31.914 kilometers will be cleaned up this month, it added.

 

“We hope to cover 129 barangays this month for 18 days. Like our August Estero Blitz, this daily cleanup will be extensive,” Tolentino said. 

 

He added the Estero Blitz II will be done quarterly.

 

Schedule

 

The following esteros will be cleaned up this month, said MMDA:

 

Manila (78 barangays, total length: 12.74 km): 

 

Makati/Manila/Pasay (cleanup on Feb. 15-17; 43 barangays, total length: 3.77 km):

 

Pasay (Feb. 20-21):

 

Parañaque City (Feb. 22-24):

 

Muntinlupa City (Feb. 27-29):

 

“Our target is to clean and dredge at least 1.7 kilometers of waterways a day,” Tolentino said. –KG, GMA News