METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority Chairperson Romando Artes yesterday said the agency is open to the possibility of implementing a policy that would unify the ban on single-use plastics in the 17 local government units in the National Capital Region.
Artes made the remarks during the Zero Waste Summit at the MMDA’s main office in Pasig City where various stakeholders gathered to discuss and find solutions to the garbage problem in the sprawling metropolis.
“In Metro Manila, there is no single policy yet but there are cities such as Marikina and Quezon City that already have ordinances banning single-use plastic,” Artes said.
Artes said the MMDA will coordinate with the National Solid Waste Management Commission in coming up with a resolution regarding single-use plastic in the metropolis.
A 2023 waste analysis and characterization study in Metro Manila conducted by the MMDA showed that 21,44 percent of household wastes could be recycled, while a separate report by the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources estimated that 85 percent of waste generated could be composted.
“We cannot ignore the urgent need to address these waste types. If left unattended, they will continue to pollute our waterways, contribute to flooding, and hinder our economic growth, ultimately impacting our economy and overall public health,” Artes said.
Artes also said the outdated drainage systems could be blamed for the massive flooding experienced in the metropolis, especially when typhoon Carina hit the country last July.
“I think it’s pretty much accurate that the flooding was caused by an unprecedented amount of rain, garbage, and maybe I can add, the third one, which is our antiquated drainage system, which was mostly constructed during the 1970s,” Artes said.
President Marcos Jr. placed Metro Manila under a state of calamity in the wake of Carina’s onslaught, which was aggravated by the southwest monsoon.
Authorities recorded 15 fatalities due to the flooding caused by Carina and the southwest monsoon.
Artes also acknowledged the agency’s shortcomings in collecting garbage after the flooding.
“We had difficulty catching up and cleaning up all the garbage left by Carina which, of course, was generated by communities. The local government units were not able to collect it, maybe because it’s thrown somewhere else,” he added.
Earlier, the MMDA said it had identified 80 flood-prone areas in Metro Manila with flooding exacerbated by the haphazard dumping of garbage and the limited capacity of the drainage system in some areas.
Artes said they see the upgrading of Metro Manila’s drainage system as the long-term solution to flooding, especially in low-lying areas.
He said the high volume of flood waters during heavy rain can be addressed by upgrading the capacity of the drainage system.
Last year, Artes said a 50-year drainage master plan to mitigate flooding in the metropolis has received the approval of the World Bank.
The World Bank will provide the funding through a soft loan, with Artes saying the master plan, including a detailed engineering design, will cost around P600 million.
The plan will also consider the changing weather pattern, sea level, and projected rainfall, Artes said, to make sure it is effective and will last for as much as five decades.
Artes said there is a need to improve Metro Manila’s drainage system as its design is outdated and incapable of holding a huge volume of water during heavy downpours.
He said the master plan will address the problem by making sure the drainage systems in the metropolis will be common in terms of size and design.
The drainage master plan also aims to synchronize the policies, strategies and programs to address flooding and drainage improvement works in the national capital region.
