PARAÑAQUE CITY, Philippines — The massive buildup of garbage in the Redemptorist Water Channel near Baclaran Church in Parañaque City has prompted an intensified government cleanup operation, with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) deploying personnel and heavy equipment after tons of waste clogged the waterway following days of heavy monsoon rains.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon described the situation as a “garbage crisis” after inspecting the heavily clogged water channel on Tuesday, August 11. He said additional equipment, including floating backhoes and floating trash barges, would be needed to accelerate the removal of the waste.
The Philippine News Agency reported that DPWH personnel and heavy equipment were deployed to the Parañaque water channel as part of the clearing operation. The effort is intended to remove the garbage obstructing the waterway and help restore the flow of floodwaters.
The scale of the accumulation was also documented by Reuters, which reported that a week of monsoon rains had washed several tons of trash into Manila’s rivers and bays. Reuters photographs taken on August 11 showed workers collecting garbage from a river near Baclaran Church, including personnel from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
The garbage buildup has raised concerns beyond sanitation because clogged waterways can restrict the movement of floodwaters and worsen flooding in surrounding communities. Dizon said improper waste disposal was contributing to the condition of waterways in the area, which he described as among the worst he had seen.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who inspected flood control operations in nearby Las Piñas City, also renewed his call for proper waste disposal. Marcos said some of the garbage clogging the waterway appeared to have come from outside Parañaque, underscoring the interconnected nature of Metro Manila’s waterways.
Marcos also said the government would pursue a waste-to-energy program as part of efforts to address the country’s growing garbage problem while generating additional electricity. He likewise directed Dizon to revisit plans for the completion of the long-delayed Las Piñas spillway, which is considered important to Metro Manila’s flood management system.
The Parañaque city government has separately begun clearing garbage and debris from the Redemptorist Water Channel in Barangay Baclaran. The operation involves local and national government personnel working to remove the waste that accumulated in the waterway.
Reports have pointed to the interaction between heavy rainfall, water movement and accumulated solid waste as factors behind the dramatic buildup. Local officials have also said that garbage from Manila Bay entered the channel after protective barriers were damaged or temporarily removed in connection with ongoing dredging operations.
The situation developed amid persistent Southwest Monsoon or Habagat rains that affected Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon. PAGASA had earlier monitored Tropical Depression Maymay, whose circulation also enhanced rainfall over parts of the country. PAGASA bulletins warned of heavy rainfall and associated risks including flooding and landslides during the system’s passage over Northern Luzon.
The Baclaran incident has once again highlighted the long-standing connection between solid waste management and flooding in Metro Manila. Government agencies have repeatedly warned that garbage dumped on roads, waterways and drainage systems can be carried by rain into rivers and esteros, where it can obstruct water flow.
For now, clearing operations continue at the Redemptorist Water Channel as authorities work to remove the accumulated waste and improve the movement of floodwaters. The scale of the cleanup, however, has renewed a broader question that extends beyond the current monsoon: how to prevent the same waterways from becoming clogged again when the next heavy rains arrive.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
