MMDA plans NCAP-like camera system to curb littering

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is set to use cameras to help catch litterers, similar to the approach of the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP).

The NCAP is the metro’s traffic enforcement system that uses CCTVs to catch traffic violators. It was enforced to help curb bribery involving traffic enforcers.

In a "24 Oras" report by Ian Cruz on Thursday, a man was caught on camera unloading sacks of trash on a post along EDSA Oliveros in Quezon City. The said area is known to be prone to flooding.

Such was the case a few hours later, when the rain triggered floods in that section of EDSA.

MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre said that they have already caught many litterers through the CCTV.

“We have 32 cameras na nasa estero lang nilalagay, mga estero na identified na tapunan talaga, so yung ibang mga tao alam nilang mino-monitor sila, tumigil na,” Torre said.

(We have 32 cameras that will be put along estuaries, the estuaries that have been identified as dumping sites, so people there ought to know that they are being monitored so they should stop.)

In Vitas, Tondo, trash could be seen thrown about carelessly, even on the bridge. Trash could also be seen floating at the Estero de Vitas. Even a dead pet was seen in the creek.

The MMDA collected eight cubic meters of trash at the Vitas Pumping Station on Wednesday, and another four cubic meters on Thursday.

“Yung mga basurang itinatapon sa gilid ng kalsada, pupunta sa inlet natin, tapos pupunta sa main drainage natin, tulad ng Estero de Vitas. Mag-iipon-ipon po ’yan,” Vitas pumping station plant manager Jude EricK Paz said.

(The trash being thrown at the streets goes to the inlet and then it goes to the main drainage like the Estero de Vitas and then it gathers there.)

The MMDA has more than 70 pumping stations to mitigate the floods in the metro, but trash has been known to slow down the process before the water can be redirected to the sea.

Paz explained that there is too much trash, and the screen gets clogged. Operations need to be stopped to free up the screens and let the pumps continue.

Malacañang earlier said it is considering imposing stiffer penalties on people caught improperly disposing of garbage, as part of the government's efforts to address flooding.—Jean Mangaluz/LDF, GMA News