QC, DOST launch automatic trash rake for waterways

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Science and Technology and the Quezon City government launched yesterday an automatic trash raking facility that can remove garbage from heavily clogged waterways.

Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista hailed the DOST for donating the P10-million technology, which removes garbage floating in the water.

The facility, set up along Balingasa creek, was developed by the DOST’s Metal Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) and funded by the DOST’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development.

Quezon City environmental management executives said that the clogged Balingasa creek was the cause of severe flooding in Barangays Masambong and Manresa, and also as far as Talayan Village and other long stretches of Araneta Avenue.

Bautista said the trash raker is a godsend, especially for Quezon City, which has a number of clogged creeks and rivers that overflow during heavy rainfall.

Bautista said the technology could be the answer for other cities and municipalities all over the country with the same problem.

DOST Secretary Mario Montejo said that they were also thankful to the Quezon City government for being open to adopting locally developed technology for disaster management and environment rehabilitation.

Montejo credited the MIRDC for coming up with the mechanical trash rake, which he said was very efficient and could take on the gargantuan task of clearing up a river or creek of garbage.

“Indirectly, it would show the people in the vicinity (of Balingasa creek) how much garbage they’re throwing,” he said.