Post by : Badri Ariffin

A large-scale cleanup is underway at the Redemptorist Water Channel in Parañaque City after hundreds of truckloads of garbage accumulated in the waterway.

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon led an inspection and cleanup operation involving the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Parañaque local government unit (LGU).

Authorities deployed additional workers and heavy equipment to remove the large volume of waste from the estero. Dizon estimated that the operation could collect at least 100 truckloads of garbage. “Siguro minimum a hundred truckloads,” Dizon said.

Workers Remove Garbage by Hand

Personnel from the Parañaque City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) were seen entering the water to manually retrieve garbage and move it closer to backhoes, which were being used to collect the debris.

The waste included plastic materials, sacks, wood, styrofoam and other debris. Authorities said the garbage accumulated in the channel following Habagat, or the southwest monsoon.

The waterway is deep in some sections, reaching above an adult’s height. Because of the depth, some workers were unable to continue wearing protective gear as it would have been submerged in the water.

Five More Barges Deployed

Dizon said additional resources were being mobilized to speed up the cleanup, including five more barges. “Ang kailangan talaga dito, magdeploy tayo ng mas maraming equipment. Nagpadagdag tayo ng lima [na barge]… Para lang bumilis tayo today,” he said.

The Redemptorist Water Channel is approximately one kilometer long and 60 meters wide and drains into Manila Bay.

Garbage Accumulated Rapidly

Dizon said he was surprised by the sudden increase in garbage at the site, noting that he had passed through the area only days earlier.

He said there was no similar buildup when he went through the area on Sunday, and according to Parañaque CENRO, the situation developed mainly the following day.

Dizon attributed the accumulation partly to high tide, which carried waste into the channel. “Noong nag-high tide kahapon, dinala lahat. So halo-halo na yung basurang ito,” he said.

DPWH Chief Calls It a “Garbage Crisis”

Dizon described the situation as a growing garbage problem and said it was the first time he had seen such a buildup in the area. “Talagang ako, sasabihin ko na, na garbage crisis na talaga ito,” he said.

He also warned that garbage accumulation remains a continuing challenge, saying waterways can quickly become filled again even after cleanup operations. “Maglilinis tayo isang araw, the next day, puno na naman. So talagang never-ending ito e,” Dizon said.

According to Dizon, resources from across Metro Manila are being redirected to deal with the situation. DPWH, MMDA and local government resources are being used because authorities are concerned that garbage left in the channel could enter other waterways and create additional problems.

Waste May Have Come From Several Areas

Authorities said the garbage may have originated from different areas, including nearby provinces such as Cavite, Bataan and Batangas.

Dizon described the problem as extending beyond Parañaque. “It’s a nationwide problem. It’s a nationwide crisis,” Dizon said.

Parañaque CENRO department head Bernie Amurao said the incident was unprecedented in the city.

He explained that the Redemptorist Water Channel is not a natural waterway but a man-made channel. “This is the first time na nangyari sa amin ito sa Parañque. Actually, itong channel na ito, hindi po natural ito. Kumbaga handmade channel ito,” Amurao said.

He appealed to the public to cooperate in keeping waterways clean.

Government Exploring Long-Term Waste Solutions

Dizon said the government is also looking at longer-term measures to deal with the growing volume of waste, including the possible development of waste-to-energy facilities.

He said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is exploring such facilities as a way to manage waste through controlled and clean processing. “Ini-explore ng pangulo yung pagkakaroon ng mga waste-to-energy facilities para, kamukha ng ibang bansa, susunugin na lang natin ito lahat—pero susunugin natin nang maayos at malinis. Tingin ko, wala tayong choice e,” he said.

Cleanup Targeted for One to Two Days

The DPWH initially aims to complete the cleanup within the week. However, officials are working to finish the operation within one to two days, if possible, by deploying additional manpower and equipment.

The immediate focus remains on removing the accumulated garbage from the Redemptorist Water Channel before the waste can move into other waterways.

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