Pasig LGU, MMDA hold creek cleanup drive vs flooding
Published Oct 20, 2025 01:01 pm
MMDA Chairman Don Artes and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto oversee the conduct of Bayanihan sa Estero at the Ilugin Creek in Pasig City on Monday, Oct. 20. (Photo by Santi San Juan)
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Pasig City government conducted a creek cleanup drive on Ilugin Creek on Monday, Oct. 20, as part of the national government's "Bayanihan sa Estero" initiative aimed at mitigating flooding through regular clean-ups on waterways, particularly in Metro Manila.
MMDA Chairman Don Artes and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto spearheaded the creek cleanup in Barangay Pinagbuhatan wherein dozens of sacks of water hyacinths were immediately collected by MMDA and city government workers during the start of the operation.
A Trash skimmer, a crane, a backhoe, and dump truck were also used by the cleanup group to expedite the collection of water hyacinths and other garbage from the waterway.
The authorities also held anti-dengue misting and defogging operations near the creek to prevent the spread of diseases such as dengue that can be contracted through bites of dengue-carrying mosquitoes thriving in dirty water.
According to Artes, the agency targets to clean and monitor 273 waterways across Metro Manila, with 23 of those considered as priority areas.
The MMDA and President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. launched the Bayanihan sa Estero program on Aug. 2, starting from the cleanup of Buli Creek also in Barangay Pinagbuhatan. The creek is included in the 23 priority cleanup targets of the program.
Sotto explained the city government continues to expand its efforts in cleaning the city's waterways to prevent garbage and other debris from clogging it up, resulting in flooding in parts of the city.
These include the regular cleanup drives being made by the city's concerned agencies and departments, as well as the introduction of "Clearbot,” an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered robotic vessel designed to clear floating waste and water hyacinths from esteros connected to the Pasig River.
The solar-powered machine was launched by the city government, the MMDA, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Oct. 10.
Sotto said that the project highlights the importance of continuous innovation in working toward cleaner rivers, better waterways, and a healthier environment for the people.