MMDA cleans Estero de Binondo

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday conducted a cleanup operation at the Estero de Binondo near Juan Luna Street in Manila, according to a report on Unang Balita by Bam Alegre.

MMDA personnel started the cleanup early using heavy equipment such as cranes to take out garbage from the waterway.

There were also MMDA personnel on rafts picking up trash floating on the estero.

According to MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago, MMDA put some traps in parts of the estero to collect the trash.

"At least 'pag bumuhos ng isang bagsakan ang mga basura, isang bagsakan din natin siyang mahahakot. Hindi natin siyang hahayaang makalat pa sa ibang bahagi ng estero," Pialago said.

There are more than 275 esteros in Metro Manila, Pialago said. Some of these are under the care of the local government, with the MMDA doing the declogging.

The problem however, is that when esteros are full of trash, it is hard to declog, Pialago said. "So ang tendency, ang MMDA, aayusin din namin ang basura," she said.

"Isu-sustain din namin itong Estero de Binondo," Pialago added.

Reminders

The MMDA spokesperson reminded the public to not throw trash in waterways and to segregate their garbage.

"'Wag gawing tapunan ng basura ang estero," she said.

"Disiplina lang ho. Kagaya ng problema sa trapiko, kagaya ng problema sa ilang issues ng lipunan, sa issue ng basura, basic pa rin ho: Disiplina pa rin ang kailangan natin," Pialago said.

The MMDA is also hoping to get the cooperation of barangay officials in keeping esteros clean, she added. —KG, GMA News