MANILA — The Department of Interior and Local Government, together with Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the Malabon city government, and volunteers conducted a massive clean-up drive early Saturday morning.

This, after Habagat — the Southwest Monsoon — and Typhoon Carina left tons of garbage on the streets of Malabon and of other places in Metro Manila affected by the flooding.

"Ang volume ng basura ngayon ay nakita n’yo naman na talagang mas marami ngayon dahil nga tinangay lahat. Bumalik sa tao," said Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos.

(The volume of trash — well, you saw there is more trash because the flood waters washed them away and then returned them.)

Authorities have attributed the flooding to inadequate flood control systems and on people's supposed lack of discipline to properly dispose of their trash. There are few public trash cans in Metro Manila and garbage collection can be erratic.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said reclamation projects in Manila Bay may also have contributed to the flooding.

READ: Is Manila Bay reclamation to blame for worsening floods? DENR shares findings

"[A]ng panawagan natin ay please huwag kayong magtapon kung saan-saan lalo na kung umuulan ay babalik 'yan. Remember, La Niña season tayo ngayon," Abalos said.

(Our call is for the people not to throw your trash everywhere, especially when it is raining. It will come back to you.)

LOOK: Marikina continues cleanup in Habagat aftermath

According to Secretary Abalos, the waste brought by the flooding caused some drainage systems to clog, thus, preventing the floodwater from subsiding  faster.

Abalos also urged LGUs to pass ordinances on proper waste disposal and segregation.

"Baka puwede rin na magkaroon kayo ng ordinansa, imbes na i-arrest ninyo o [patawan] ng penalty, mag-community service na lang," he added.

(Maybe there can be ordinances where, instead of arresting litterbugs, you have them do community service.)

During the clean-up drive, MMDA utilized its equipment such as siphoning and jet blaster to hasten the collection of garbage.

"Itutuloy-tuloy po natin itong programang Kalinisan hanggang sa matutunan po ng ating mga kababayan at ma-change 'yong mindset nila na 'yong basura ay ilabas po sa tamang oras at tamang lugar para po mahakot ito at maitapon ng mga LGUs," said MMDA Acting Chairman Don Artes.

(We will continue our Kalinisan program until the people learn and their mindset on trash is changed, so they will bring their trash out at the correct time and place so that local government units can collect them.)

As of July 31, 2024, 870 tons of garbage have been collected within the metro, Artes said.

The clean-up drive is being done simultaneously across the country as part of the Kalinisan sa Bagong Pilipinas program of the DILG.

In Malabon, 60 percent of the flood waste has already been collected, according to Mayor Jeannie Sandoval.

Meanwhile, Mayor Sandoval said that they are in constant communication with the Navotas city government regarding the dredging and repair work of the damaged navigational floodgate there.

"As of yesterday, matatapos na 'yong fabrication ng mga material na ikakabit. Naghihintay na lang sila ng tiyempo from August 3 to August 17. Ikakabit na itong mga gamit two weeks na lang. We hope na matatapos na itong pag-aayos," she added.

(As of yesterday, the parts that will be installed have been fabricated. They're waiting to install them between August 3 and 17. We hope that this will complete the repairs.)

The floodgate was damaged in June when a barge tried to sail through during low tide.

RELATED: Navotas rep seeks legal action over floodgate damage

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