MMDA: Garbage problem renders anti-flood measures inadequate

Heightened measures against flooding may not be enough this year if residents in Metro Manila continue to throw garbage indiscriminately, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has admitted. MMDA general manager Roberto Nacianceno said their pumping stations are only able to operate at 70-percent efficiency due to tons of garbage clogging drainage systems. “May nahihigop na basura ang aming pumping station. Mga 70% lang capacity imbes 100% dhil nakakasagabal ang tone-toneladang basura sa paghigop (Our pumping stations continue to suck up garbage instead of water. They are operating at only 70 percent efficiency instead of 100 percent no thanks to tons of garbage)," Nacianceno said in an interview on dwIZ radio. “Dapat talagang paulit-ulit nating sinasabi sa ating mga mamamayan (We may have to keep reminding the public against throwing garbage indiscriminately)," he added. To make sure pumping station operators do not sleep on their job, Nacianceno said the MMDA has installed closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems in work areas. An earlier report on dwIZ said the MMDA has installed at least 20 CCTV systems in 50 pumping stations. “Naglagay kami ng CCTV sa pumping station para kahit 2 o 3 a.m. masigurado namin ang tao namin nagtatrabaho nakikita namin sa command center (We have placed CCTV systems at the pumping stations to make sure operators especially those at the night shift do not fall asleep on the job)," Nacianceno said. — LBG, GMANews.TV