MMDA ready for flood, not garbage

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday expressed its readiness in handling floods during the rainy season but still urged the public to be more responsible in disposing of garbage.

MMDA general manager Robert Nacianceno said that although they have successfully tested all their pumping stations, these will work more efficiently if their operation is not hampered by garbage sucked in with the floodwater.

“Almost all the pumping stations are working. But we can only be able to maximize their operations if there are no garbage in the waterways,” he said.

Nacianceno said the discipline to follow traffic rules, following the example of the President, should be extended to cover all rules, especially those concerning littering.

“We would like to ask everyone to be law abiding. It should not just be following traffic rules but also obeying laws against littering and rules on the proper disposal of garbage,” he said.

Nacianceno said that with garbage clogging the drainage inlets, the efficiency of the pumping stations is reduced to 70 percent.

The MMDA also earlier announced that it will also be installing 20 Internet-protocol closed-circuit television (IP-CCTV) cameras at 20 of its 25 main pumping stations to provide real-time monitoring of the flood situation.

Once the level of water at the pumping stations and surrounding areas has reached critical levels, alarms would be activated to notify concerned officials to operate more pumping gates or open floodgates if necessary.