TEN thousand temporary workers will clean waterways across Metro Manila as part of the government’s flood-mitigating measures.
In a statement, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said that the Bayanihan sa Estero Program will not only help reduce flooding during the rainy season but also provide a source of income for those still seeking permanent employment.
“We know the hardships our fellow Filipinos face whenever heavy rains pour. That is why we expanded this program so we can clear obstructions in esteros and waterways more quickly and reduce flooding,” Recto said in Filipino.
“This will continue throughout the year,” he added.
The initiative, which began on July 1, mobilizes beneficiaries of the government’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) program to remove silt and garbage from canals, drainage channels, and waterways across Metro Manila.
It was done in compliance with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to strengthen flood mitigation measures for communities frequently affected by heavy rains.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is leading the campaign, in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment.
Recto said the clean-up drive is intended as an immediate flood mitigation measure while the government continues to pursue longer-term infrastructure projects.
The expanded program was launched after a coordination meeting Recto chaired, with officials from the Departments of Transportation, Public Works and Highways, Labor and Employment, and the MMDA to accelerate preparations for the rainy season and strengthen interagency efforts to address flooding in the capital region.