MMDA CLEANUP IN MAKATI – MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Don Artes supervises the drainage declogging along Evangelista St., in Bgy Bangkal, Makati City. The MMDA conducted ‘Bayanihan sa Barangay,’ the agency’s massive clean-up drive aimed at helping densely populated areas and promoting urban renewal. Photo by JOSEPH MUEGO.
MMDA brings ‘Bayanihan sa Barangay’ in Makati
THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), along with the Local Government of Makati, held on Tuesday its “Bayanihan sa Barangay” project at Barangay Bangkal.
MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Don Artes said the project was part of the agency’s clean-up drive that aimed to raise public awareness of the importance of proper waste disposal, help densely populated areas, and bring the agency’s services closer to the public.
MMDA personnel from different offices such as Flood Control and Sewerage Management Office, Health, Public Safety and Environmental Protection Office, Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group (SCOG), and Traffic Engineering Center (TEC) conducted various activities and services such as drainage declogging, sidewalk clearing operations, painting of pedestrian lanes, installation of road signages, among others.
The MMDA also conducted orientation sessions on anti-smoking, anti-littering, solid waste management, disaster preparedness, and “trash-to-cash” programs.
In relation to this, Artes also said the agency has already submitted the names of individuals who will be part of the Tupad Program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and who will be deployed to the LGUs to assist with the declogging operations.
“The agency plans to conduct the ‘Bayanihan sa Barangay’ project on all Metro Manila LGUs (local government units),” said Artes.
Artes has called for the public’s help in maintaining the cleanliness of their surroundings and not throwing their garbage indiscriminately.
Meanwhile, the MMDA TEC has recently recorded the highest vehicle volume count, plying EDSA numbering 425,890 vehicles from the previous high of 405,822 in 2019.
Even with the increase in the volume of vehicles, Artes said the travel speed along EDSA has improved from 21.67 kph last January 2020 to 24.98 kph recorded last May 22 of this year.
The MMDA chief also said the number of motorcycle-related accidents has decreased tremendously along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City after the implementation of the motorcycle lane.
The implementation of Exclusive Motorcycle Lane along Commonwealth Avenue started last March 2023 to help reduce the number of fatal road crashes involving motorcycles and to improve traffic flow on the said road.
