Metro Manila LGUs organize cleanups in preparation for La Niña

In anticipation of the incoming La Niña phenomenon, Metro Manila local government units have organized cleanup operations to reduce flood risks. 

According to a ''24 Oras Weekend'' report by EJ Gomez on Saturday, Quezon City street sweepers were working to remove trash that surfaced following a thunderstorm.

“Nililinis naman ng MMDA to, pero ewan ko kung bakit ganiyan kasi laging may basura eh,” said street sweeper Louisa Ganaban.

(MMDA cleans this up, but I don’t know why it’s like this because it always has garbage.)

In Manila City, officials of Barangay 675, Zone 73, have been conducting drainage and sewer declogging since March.

“We have declogging, and then on a weekly basis, we have the weekly cleanup drive as mandated by DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government),” said Barangay 675 Chairman Aris de Leon.

Meanwhile, Pasay City has also prepared regular cleanups of waterways.

“Mayroon kaming regular talaga na cleaning up to the barangay level ng aming mga esteros and streets. And then I instructed the Engineering Office na icheck nila yung mga drainage kung may mga sira pa, and then nakikipagtulungan po kami sa MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) para po sa cleaning ng mga esteros and waterways,” said Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano.

(We regularly clean the sewers and streets up to the barangay level. And then, I instructed the Engineering Office to check the drainage for any damage, and we are coordinating with the MMDA in cleaning sewers and waterways.)

Rain will be more frequent in the days to come as the country moves into the wet season, PAGASA earlier said.

The state weather bureau added that La Niña, which is associated with above-normal rainfall, may develop during the June-July-August season. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News