The MMDA has successfully completed the clearing and rehabilitation of Estero de San Miguel in Manila, one of the most heavily polluted waterways in the capital. Over the course of three months, the operation removed approximately 15,000 cubic meters of solid waste, silt, and debris that had accumulated over decades, significantly improving water flow and reducing flood risk in the surrounding barangays.
The project involved coordination between the MMDA, the City Government of Manila, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and local barangay officials. Heavy equipment including backhoes, dump trucks, and barge-mounted excavators were deployed along the 2.8-kilometer stretch of the estero. Informal settlers along the waterway were relocated to government housing units in coordination with the National Housing Authority.
MMDA Chairman Romando Artes emphasized that the clearing of Estero de San Miguel is part of the agency's broader waterway rehabilitation program covering 47 priority esteros across Metro Manila. The agency will now conduct regular maintenance to prevent the re-accumulation of waste and will install trash traps at key entry points. Community-based monitoring programs are also being established to sustain the improvements achieved.
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