The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) collected around 170 sacks of garbage during a cleanup operation at Estero de Magdalena in Tondo, Manila.
In a statement on Friday, the MMDA said the operation was conducted in coordination with the MMDA-Metro Parkways Clearing Group, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Manila local government, and Estero Rangers.
“Isa ang Estero de Magdalena sa mga major tributaries ng Ilog Pasig o mga daluyang tubig na konektado sa ilog. Mahalaga ang pagpapanatili ng kalinisan nito at ng iba pang estero para maiwasan ang pagbaha,” the agency said.
(Estero de Magdalena is one of the major tributaries of the Pasig River. Keeping it and other waterways clean is essential to preventing floods.)
Earlier, the MMDA cited the lack of discipline among households and establishments in practicing proper waste management as a major challenge in achieving a waste-free National Capital Region (NCR).
“Unang-una ang challenge po ay ‘yung segregation, kailangan po talaga na magkaroon ng pagbabago sa kaisipan ng ating mga kababayan,” MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes said during the MMDA’s Road to Zero Waste Summit.
(The primary challenge is waste segregation. People need to change their mindset about this.)
“Sabi ko nga po kanina, ang problema sa basura ay hindi kayang solusyunan ng pamahalaan lamang. Kailangan natin ng tulong ng private [sector] at lalong-lalo na ng ating mga kababayan.”
(As I mentioned earlier, the waste problem cannot be solved by the government alone. We need help from the private sector and, most importantly, from the public.)
According to MMDA data from 2024, Metro Manila generates approximately 11,000 kilograms of waste daily. The agency projects this will increase to 13.3 million kg/day or 4.67 million tons/year by 2025. — DVM, GMA Integrated News
