MANILA, Philippines — Over 400 metric tons of waste, enough to fill 96 dump trucks, were hauled from the waterways clean-up operation conducted by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) alongside Paranaque City local government at the Redemptorist Water Channel in Brgy. Baclaran, MMDA said Wednesday.
The 418.4 metric tons of garbage piles were collected by authorities from August 10-12.
Days of incessant rains brought about by Tropical Cyclones Maymay, Luis and southwest monsoon or Habagat washed massive pile-ups of trash exposing Manila’s extreme garbage problem.
Most of the trash was plastics, styrofoam, wooden debris, sacks and general domestic refuse.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon inspected the site and called it a "garbage crisis," urging better local waste enforcement.
He said trash from areas surrounding Manila Bay, which was an accumulation from trash from Metro Manila and nearby provinces, continues to wash into the channel, which stretches about a kilometer from the bay.
In several interviews and social media posts, MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre III vowed to clean the garbage but insisted that things cannot go on without change.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), MMDA and local city teams are using heavy gear and manual labor to haul away the waste but complete clearing of the channel, authorities said, is estimated to take days to weeks more.
