DENR orders Marikina, MMDA to remove trash from Nangka River

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Environmental Management Bureau-National Capital Region (EMB-NCR) has asked the Marikina City government, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to immediately remove the accumulated mud and debris obstructing the free flow of the Nangka River.

The EMB-NCR’s report said the river is 50 meters wide, but the debris has reduced the width to only three meters. It likewise noted that a “dike of mud” of approximately 50 meters long and three meters high was found along Balimbing Street beside the river; while “approximately 200 truckloads” of mud was observed dumped at a vacant lot situated beside the river.

Earlier, environment groups EcoWaste, Buklod Tao, and Greenpeace Southeast Asia alleged that the garbage was “illegally” dumped in the area by the Marikina City government as part of its clearing operations following the flash floods brought by tropical storm “Ondoy.”

In a two-page report, which copy was provided to The Star, EMB-NCR investigators Raymond Jose and engineer Edgardo Baldedara said they fear that if the “dumping of mud along the riverside will continue and the dike of mud will not be removed in the sites sooner it will eventually go to the river especially during rainy days, resulting to obstruction of the free flow of water downstream.” EMB-NCR director Roberto Sheen approved the report.

The investigators said Marikina City, the MMDA and DPWH should “immediately institute mitigating measures towards the removal of barriers, which obstruct the free flow of Nangka River.”

The report mentioned that an official of Barangay Nangka disclosed that the dumping of mud in the area is a “temporary solution to clear the road immediately and make it passable.”

Accordingly, the EMB-NCR report added that such decision was made “by the higher authorities of the city as well as the chief of the MMDA.”

Environment groups hailed the result of the EMB-NCR’s investigation of their complaint.

“The authorities finally heard us and we thank the DENR’s EMB-NCR for their action to uphold the law against dumping,” said Manny Calonzo, president of EcoWaste Coalition. “This is a victory for Mother Earth. But this could have not happened if not for the vigilance and perseverance of Buklod Tao and the community residents to assert their right to a safe environment.”

Beau Baconguis, toxics campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, said Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando and her husband, MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando “should act swiftly to rid Nangka River of dumped mud and trash. Protecting our rivers is an essential mitigation that has to be pursued amid threats of more frequent and intense weather events due to climate change.”

Although the EMB-NCR report stated that the investigators did not observe any dumping in the area last Oct. 28 and made no mention of the origin of the dumped mud and construction debris along and within the river, the environment groups insisted that the dumped materials were “post-Ondoy” garbage.

A total of 26 environment and cause-oriented organizations filed a letter-complaint at the DENR and at the Marikina Mayor’s office last Oct. 12, denouncing the Nangka River dumping as “blatant violation” of environmental laws.