Even before the rainy season starts, some residents of Barangay Guilig in Mangaldan, Pangasinan are already dealing with flooding — and it’s because of trash blocking their drainage system.

According to residents and local officials, garbage from the nearby market and other areas ends up clogging the drainage canals. With just a bit of rain, water no longer flows properly.

“Kanina nakita namin, puno na ang drainage. Aapaw na,” Barangay Chairman Alex Razo said.

Residents say they fear for their safety whenever it rains.

“Kaunting ulan pa lang, aapaw na. Kawawa kami, babahain kami,” Juanito de Guzman, a resident, said.

To stop this from getting worse, barangay officials have started declogging operations. When they opened the manhole covers, they found large amounts of waste blocking the canals.

“’Yung tubig sa palengke, dito dumadaan. Pati ‘yung sa Barangay Bari, Poblacion, dito lahat ang bagsak,” Razo said.

The barangay plans to coordinate with the Mangaldan Market Division to stop vendors from throwing trash into drainage canals.

Officials said they will continue clearing the canals before the rainy season starts fully to prevent major floods in low-lying areas.