The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will remove the "Garbage Island" on Parañaque River as part of the agency's efforts to control floods in Metro Manila.
During an inspection on the agency's ongoing desilting operations, MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos said the removal of the island, which is made up of around 26,000 cubic meters of waste, will take three to four months before completion.
Currently, the island is already made up of garbage and silt, where shanties serving as a resting place for fishermen are already constructed.
"If we don’t act up on this, more structures will be built in the area. But the most alarming possibility is its effect on the water flow along the river and the waste will be very toxic to the community and surrounding waters," Abalos said in ordering the removal of the island.
Abalos also called on the public to report to MMDA piles of garbage they encounter so they can be removed immediately.
Recently, the agency installed 30 trash nets along canals and esteros in Metro Manila to trap garbage that will be collected every three days to help mitigate damage to the MMDA's pumping station.