The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Valenzuela City Government conducted a cleanup operations today at the Meycauayan River, located along Caingin Road at the boundary of Valenzuela City and Meycauayan, Bulacan.
MMDA General Manager Procopio Lipana and Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian oversaw the clean up efforts at the Meycauayan River, which aims to mitigate flooding along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).
“The cleanup is part of the Bayanihan sa Estero program of the MMDA, which was launched by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. last week,” Lipana said.
Lipana added that the agency deployed one backhoe, one crane, and four dump trucks for the cleanup and dredging operations.
MMDA Chairman Atty. Don Artes initiated coordination with NLEX Corporation to discuss flood mitigation measures on the expressway.
For his part, Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian said, “As early as June, we started our cleanup drive, and around 8,100 cubic meters of waste have been collected.”
Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) Chief Regulatory Officer Arrey Perez said they are planning to build a detention pond with a capacity equivalent to eight olympic-size swimming pools to help prevent severe flooding during heavy downpours.
“We need to have more engineering solutions and larger infrastructure to prepare for flooding incidents,” Perez emphasized.
Motorists recently complained about a seven-hour gridlock on NLEX caused by flooding brought about by Tropical Cyclone Crising and the southwest monsoon or Habagat, particularly in areas near the Valenzuela Interchange and the Paso de Blas entry and exit points.
The activity was joined by volunteers from ride-hailing apps Grab, Move It, InDrive, and TUPAD beneficiaries, among others.
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