Stiffer fines eyed for those throwing trash in Metro Manila waterways

The Metro Manila Council (MMC) is pushing to impose heavier fines against persons who will dispose of garbage in rivers and creeks in the National Capital Region.  

According to Jun Veneracion’s report in “24 Oras” on Wednesday, MMC President and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said the first offense could result into a fine of at least P5,000. 

“Depende po yan sa ating mga LGUs kung ano gusto nilang gawin. But if youre talking about the maximum amount pwedeng yung first offense pa lamang P5,000 na and all succeeding offenses P5,000 ng P5,000,” said Zamora. 

(That depends on our local government units and what they want to do. But if you’re talking about the maximum amount, the first offense alone could be P5,000, and all succeeding offenses will be P5,000 each.) 

Zamora made the statement after inspecting the San Juan River. Less than a week since the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) cleared a portion of the river, the agency already collected two trucks worth of trash from the water. 

“Vicious cycle na po eh. Lilinisin namin and yet ganun pa rin,” said MMDA chairperson Romando Artes. 

(It’s already a vicious cycle. We clean it and yet the situation is still the same.) 

The San Juan River is a critical waterway in Metro Manila. Once this crucial waterway become clogged, three low-lying areas in San Juan will be the first to be affected by flooding. 

Despite the ongoing ordinance on garbage disposal in the city, Zamora said that he is also mulling that the penalties for improper waste disposal be made uniform for all Metro Manila LGUs.

The MMDA is continuously cleaning and dredging the 23 main esteros or creeks in Metro Manila. The agency has already finished 15 of them, the report said. 

“By this year, tapos po definitely yung 23 po na esteros na ‘yan,” said Artes. 

(By this year, those 23 esteros will definitely be finished.) — Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News