Maris Federez

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), NLEX Corporation, and the local governments of Valenzuela City and Meycauayan in Bulacan conducted another round of cleanup operations on Thursday, August 7, along the Caingin River.

This joint effort was targeted to mitigate flooding and improve water flow in the river that serves as a boundary between Valenzuela and Meycauayan.

Authorities used both manual labor and heavy equipment, including backhoes, to expedite the removal of garbage trapped in the waterway.

“This is crucial because clogged waterways can lead to flooding not only along NLEX but also in parts of Metro Manila. This area is low-lying, and water must flow freely from here to Manila Bay,” said MMDA General Manager Procopio Lipana.

Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian reported that since June, approximately 450 truckloads of garbage have been hauled from the estero.

“We’ve seen factories and informal settlers along the riverbanks. Even if we clean it, it fills up again. Behind me is a bridge where water no longer flows due to accumulated trash and silt,” he said.

The cleanup comes in response to a recent flooding incident that paralyzed traffic for nearly 12 hours from Valenzuela to Balintawak. 

To prevent similar occurrences, NLEX management is now exploring permanent flood control measures.

 “We’re planning to build detention ponds with a capacity equivalent to eight Olympic-sized swimming pools to manage the surge of rainwater,” said MPTC Chief Regulatory Officer Arrey Perez.

The MMDA added that the 450 truckloads of waste collected from the Caingin River underscore the scale of the problem and the urgency of sustained cleanup operations.

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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted the Philippines’ economic resilience during a roundtable meeting with Indian businessmen and investors held in India on Wednesday, August 6.

“I am proud to share that our economy has sustained its growth momentum, recording a 5.7% GDP growth last year,” Marcos said. 

“Our financial and banking sectors are healthy and robust, and our credit rating continues to improve and to receive stable and positive investment grades,” he added.

Among the key achievements presented by the President was the country’s robust 5.7% Gross Domestic Product growth in 2024. 

He also emphasized the stable financial and banking systems that continue to support economic development.

President Marcos noted that the Philippines’ credit rating has been steadily improving, accompanied by positive investment grades from global investors.

He assured Indian business leaders that the Philippine government is committed to supporting foreign investments by streamlining bureaucratic processes and making it easier to establish businesses in the country.

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The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has issued a Tsunami Advisory, or a minor sea-level disturbance, brought about by the 8.7 magnitude quake off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia.

The advisory said that based on the revised magnitude calculations and tsunami wave models in the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, coastal areas in the Philippines fronting the Pacific ocean are expected to experience tsunami wave height of less than one (1) meter today between 01:20 PM to 02:40 PM.

The public is advised to be on alert for unusual waves and stay away from the beach and not to go to the coast of these areas, and to move farther inland.