San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora on Thursday, Dec. 11, lauded the use of modern technology in response to the perennial problem of accumulated trash and other debris in the National Capital Region's (NCR) waterways, which causes severe flooding in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Zamora made the statement during the demonstration of the Clear Robotics (ClearBot) vessel designed to remove floating garbage from waterways, which was held along the San Juan River.

ClearBot, already utilized in other parts of Metro Manila to support river rehabilitation, uses artificial intelligence and real-time telemetry to detect and collect trash and other obstructions, helping keep waterways clean and more navigable.

Clear Robotics CEO and founder Sidhant Gupta explained the vessel is also semi-autonomous, capable of capturing AI data on all waste collected. This system creates a digital twin to "track, analyze, and stop pollution at its source."

For the waste collected, it will be transported to a local partner’s sorting facility. High-value materials will be recycled or upcycled through partner programs, while non-recyclable waste will be characterized and weighed for proper disposal.

"The vessels can collect up to 500 kilograms of general waste and as much as 1,500 kilograms specifically for cleaning water hyacinth," Gupta said.

Zamora welcomed the initiative, stressing that ClearBot's introduction is part of the city’s broader initiative to decongest the San Juan River, improve water flow, and reinforce long-term flood mitigation strategies.

"The city is currently working with the national government and San Miguel Corporation for the dredging of heavily silted portions of the San Juan River, a vital step in improving drainage and reducing overflow during heavy rains. San Juan City has also intensified efforts to remove illegal settlers and illegal structures blocking river easements and drainage pathways," Zamora said, adding the city government targets to build two more pumping stations to strengthen its flood control capacity and ensure faster water discharge during typhoons and monsoon rains.

It had also partnered with the Mother Earth Foundation, an environmental non-government organization (NGO), to train barangay personnel on proper waste segregation, waste management education, and community-based solid waste campaigns.

"These efforts aim to reduce the amount of garbage entering waterways and enhance barangay-level compliance with ecological waste management standards," the mayor noted.

Bayanihan sa Estero initiative

In August, the city government and the MMDA launched the “Bayanihan sa Estero Program” at Lambingan Bridge, which aims to mitigate flooding and promote environmental sustainability.

The program is part of the city government’s request for waterways clearing and cleanup, aligned with the MMDA’s continuing efforts to strengthen flood control measures in Metro Manila.

The simultaneous cleanup and dredging operation deployed MMDA dredging equipment, garbage collection trucks, and manpower, in partnership with civil society organizations.

Aside from mitigating flooding, the local government added that the operation also aims to restore the natural flow of waterways.

The cleanup includes volunteers from private partner organizations who will work with the MMDA in clearing debris and obstructions in San Juan’s critical waterways.