President Calls for Metro Manila Waterways Cleanup
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized the urgent need for everyone to unite in cleaning up and declogging heavily silted waterways that exacerbate flooding in Metro Manila. The president led the launch of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)’s “Bayanihan sa Estero” program at Buli Creek in Pasig City, highlighting the critical role of these efforts in flood prevention.
“We all need to cooperate: local government, national government, MMDA, all volunteer groups of civil society,” Marcos said, stressing that a collective approach is essential to keep waterways clear and reduce flood risks.
He commended a group of regional office veterans who voluntarily adopted a section of an estero, taking responsibility for its upkeep. “That means that’s their responsibility from now on. They will be in charge of making sure that it’s fixed. So let’s thank them. That’s right, that’s a good example for us, there’s no way to retire. We are not allowed to retire here,” the president added.
Marcos encouraged other civic groups to follow their lead by adopting estero sections and ensuring their cleanliness to keep water flowing freely.
Progress in Metro Manila Waterways Cleanup
Out of 23 targeted esteros, 12 have already been cleared, removing a total of 881 cubic meters of garbage before the recent tropical cyclone Crising struck the region. The MMDA reported the following completed waterways:
- Libjo Creek – 212 cu. m dredged
- Balihatar Creek – 143 cu. m dredged
- Las Piñas River – 38 cu. m dredged
- Casili Creek – 54 cu. m dredged
- Tanigue Creek – 75 cu. m dredged
- Maligaya Creek – 36 cu. m dredged
- Balingasa Creek – 92 cu. m dredged
- Makiling Creek – 40 cu. m dredged
- Estero de San Miguel – 80 cu. m dredged
- Estero de Calubcob – 30 cu. m dredged
- Estero de Tripa de Gallina (Manila) – 2 cu. m dredged
- Estero de San Antonio Abad – 79 cu. m dredged
The MMDA is coordinating with local governments to clean the remaining clogged esteros, which include Estero de Magdalena, Antipolo Canal, and Buli Creek, among others.
Planting Trees as a Desiltation Strategy
In addition to cleanup drives, the government is exploring desiltation by planting more trees. Marcos explained that siltation causes waterways to become shallow, worsening flood risks. “Along with this cleaning, there is also desiltation because the water is really rising. The water is already shallow because of siltation, and we no longer have a choice there,” he said.
He further noted that reforesting watersheds helps prevent soil erosion, which otherwise carries silt into creeks. “As part of watershed development, we will plant trees so that the water does not carry away the soil that is brought here in our creeks,” Marcos added.
The president acknowledged that these efforts also serve as an adjustment to climate change’s increasing impacts. “No matter what we do, we cannot stop what is called climate change and the increasing severity of storms and the amount of siltation and the amount of trash that is blocking our creeks and destroying our pumping stations,” he said.
“And that is a big part of flood control that we have not yet fixed. Now we are fixing it,” Marcos concluded.
For more news and updates on Metro Manila waterways cleanup, visit Filipinokami.com.
