By Brian Campued
The Metro Manila Council (MMC) will discuss plans to increase the penalties imposed on individuals who irresponsibly dispose of their trash on the streets and waterways, according to MMC President and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora.
Zamora made this suggestion during the “Bayanihan sa Estero” cleanup drive at Lambingan Bridge along the San Juan River on Wednesday.
“We will push for higher penalties sapagkat kung hindi talaga natin didisiplinahin ang mga mamamayan, paulit-ulit na lang po ang problemang ito,” he said.
Under the current local ordinances in Metro Manila, the maximum fine for violators is P5,000. But if all 17 mayors agree, the said amount will now be set as the minimum penalty for the first offense.
Meanwhile, the Bayanihan sa Estero Program of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has cleaned 15 out of the 23 priority esteros that need immediate intervention due to heavy accumulation of solid waste and silt.
The program aims to intensify efforts on cleaning up and maintaining drainage infrastructures across the metropolis to prevent flooding in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s socioeconomic agenda on disaster resilience.
“Ang San Juan River ay isa sa [mga] major tributary po natin next to Pasig River, marami pong mga estero at mga kanal na dito nagdi-discharge ng tubig. Kung may mga bara po itong San Juan River… babagal ‘yong daloy ng tubig,” MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes said.
According to Artes, their agency deployed backhoes, cranes, and dump trucks for the cleanup and dredging operations.
Government personnel and volunteers likewise installed trash traps, Zamora added, which serve as “barriers to prevent the flow of garbage thrown into the waterway.”
“San Juan City will set up more pumping stations to manage water resources,” the local chief executive said. (with report from Bernard Ferrer / PTV News)
-jpv
