11 truckloads of garbage hauled from INC rally

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED 3:38 p.m.) — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) hauled away trash that filled 11 large dump trucks from the EDSA-Crossing area in Mandaluyong City immediately after members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) ended their rally on Monday.

According to Francis Martinez, head of the MMDA’s Metro Parkway Clearing Group, the collected garbage consisted mainly of plastic food wrappers and other food containers.

Martinez said the MMDA deployed some 150 cleaners, including street sweepers to clear up and sanitize the Crossing area, as well as the northbound and southbound lanes of EDSA at Shaw Boulevard that were also occupied by those who attended the rally.

Martinez said the MMDA also used 15 gallons chemicals and a flushing truck to remove the strong stench of urine in the area.

Meanwhile, the MMDA's Traffic Discipline Office (TDO) declared the northbound and southbound service roads near the EDSA Crossing area passable to vehicular traffic shortly before noon.

"The EDSA-Shaw Boulevard underpass and the ground level service roads both north bound and southbound are now passable," said MMDA-TDO chief Crisanto Saruca in a text message sent at 12:48 pm.

Officials of the INC on Monday agreed to end the five-day mass action after talks with government.

READ: INC ends 5-day protest