Over 600 tons of trash recovered from pumping stations, flooded areas —MMDA

More than 600 tons of trash have been recovered from pumping stations and flooded areas amid the impact of Tropical Cyclone Crising and Southwest Monsoon or Habagat in Metro Manila.

According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), a total of 526.8 tons of garbage were collected from pumping stations from Friday to Tuesday.

Meanwhile, 76.92 tons of trash were accumulated from clearing operations in flooded areas from Monday to Tuesday.

Photo from MMDA

The MMDA on Wednesday inspected the Tripa de Gallina pumping station in Pasay City, which is the largest pumping station in Metro Manila.

Heavy loads of garbage were retrieved from the pumping station including old furniture, broken refrigerators, wheels, trunks of fallen trees, among others, according to the MMDA.

"When plastics are sucked into the pump, they get coiled in the engine, resulting in overheating. The efficiency of our pumping stations are really affected and could result in damaged equipment," MMDA chief Romando Artes said.

"Our drainage system is antiquated, with more than 50 years of service. To address these issues, we need a drainage master plan for Metro Manila that involves upgrading and expanding the existing drainage network, constructing new pumping stations, among others,” he added.

Photo from MMDA

According to Artes, all 71 pumping stations in Metro Manila are working at full capacity.

The MMDA is also conducting declogging and dredging operations of drainages and waterways in major thoroughfares in Metro Manila to mitigate flooding.

Meanwhile, Artes also inspected the MRT7 project’s Batasan Station on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City to address the possible causes of flooding in the area and propose a viable solution.

"The size of the inlet was reduced to two feet by two feet from its original dimension of 3 meters by 3 meters. Our agency plans to widen the existing steel-grating drop inlet to intercept the floodwaters coming from IBP Road,” Artes said.

Representatives from the city government and San Miguel Corporation’s (SMC) MRT-7 management also joined the inspection to address the issue. —VAL, GMA Integrated News