Truckloads of trash hauled from Manila Bay

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) collected yesterday two truckloads of garbage from Manila Bay following the habagat or southwest monsoon rains in the past days.

At least 40 cubic meters of trash, including plastic bottles, styrofoam and other debris that blended with twigs and coconut husks were hauled by personnel of the MMDA’s Metro Parkways Clearing Group.

MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos led the cleanup on the shoreline of Manila Bay, including the dolomite beach after piles of garbage washed ashore on the artificial white sand.

The dolomite beach was sealed off with sandbags and metal barriers.

“Plastics are the most common trash found in Manila Bay,” Abalos told reporters.

Abalos said he sought the help of the Department of the Interior and Local Government to tap police in arresting persons throwing garbage into the bay.

“I have talked to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año about this matter. Those apprehended will be required to clean Manila Bay,” Abalos said.

He appealed to the public to stop the habit of indiscriminately dumping waste in Manila Bay, rivers and other waterways.

Marikina River

Meanwhile, Marikina River’s water level returned to normal on Sunday after days of heavy downpour triggered by Typhoon Fabian and the southwest monsoon.

In an advisory, the city government said the river’s water level was at 13.8 meters at 10 a.m. yesterday.

On Saturday, the local government declared alarm level 2 over Marikina River as the water reached 16 meters. The water level returned to normal below the 15-meter mark at 11:20 p.m. on Sunday. – Neil Jayson Servallos