Trash Trap: Cleanup of Local Esteros in Manila

I. Introduction

For over a decade, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which was formed
in January 1, 1917, has been protecting and managing the Philippines’ environment from its first
foundation. Along with other government agencies that manages other environmental resources, such
as the PRRC or Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, they have been so far successful in protecting
the country’s resources for everyone. Additionally, with the help of other foreign countries the
department has established great designs and projects such as watersheds, protecting marine lives and
coral reefs, and other projects that will help for our environment.

The DENR was chosen to fund this project for the proponents understand that the department
also aims to protect the rich environment of the Philippines. With the department’s knowledge regarding
rehabilitation programs, this project may be better improved. Additionally, with the department’s help to
clean our esteros, the people living in communities will lessen the cases of diseases that can be caught
by the people who are living in the area.

This project connects to DENR’s vision of having a nation enjoying and sustaining its natural
resources and clean and healthy environment, with this project it can contribute to the cleanliness of the
environment. In addition, the project aims that the barangay officials and the locals will help each other
to clean the estero for it needs man power to remove the piled-up garbage, this will help to achieve
DENR’s mission which states to mobilize our citizenry in protecting, conserving, and managing the
environment and natural resources for the present and future generations. The project is the stepping
stone to protect and improve our natural resources, to work Filipinos as one, and to bring back the
beauty of esteros in our country.

II. Rationale

Aside from heavy traffic, corruption, and poverty, another major problem in the Philippines is poor
waste management. According to the Solid Waste Management Office (2018), only 54.81 percent of the
total garbage collected in Metro Manila have been properly disposed in dumping sites. Hence, 45.19
percent are improperly disposed. In 2010, the total volume of trash thrown by residents was estimated to be
around 8,600 tons per day. However, in 2016, it grew to around 9,499.44 tons per day, a nearly 11 percent
increase in just 6 years. The Local Government Units were mostly blamed for the large number of
improperly disposed trash.

A quantity of the garbage produced by residents can be found in local water channels, namely
esteros. In Manila, esteros have been infamous for its layers of trash ever since the city’s population and
industry began to bloom. All esteros are connected to the Pasig river, the main river that connects Manila
bay to Laguna de Bay. Many of the water channels in Manila are noticeably dense with trash. Such as
various esteros in Tondo, Santa Cruz, Paco, Binondo, and San Miguel.

The effects of this local water pollution may be observed during intense rainfall. Scattered trash would often
accumulate at canals which causes obstruction. In turn, the clogging of drainages results in severe
flooding, affecting numerous people within the locality. Additionally, flooding is also the biggest factor that
affects the number of Leptospirosis cases in the Philippines. According to the Department of Health (2018),
there were 1,030 cases of Leptospirosis recorded nationwide from only January to June this year. This was
indeed due to the flash floods that occurred in Metro Manila. It is also speculated that the trash which were
pushed to the roads of Roxas Boulevard by large waves came from polluted water channels within the city.

There has been a handful of programs launched by the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission
(PRRC) and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to lessen the water pollution in Manila.
Programs aimed to clean local esteros has been accomplished by these agencies before, however, high
amounts of rubbish can still be observed. A number of these environmental managements programs
include housing and resettlement of informal settlers near riverbanks, estero cleanups, and the solid waste
management. Although, these programs implemented have shown numerous flaws and, therefore, remain
inadequate to solve the city’s trash problem.

This project is essential to the country’s environmental development. It aims to be a solution to

Manila’s struggle with water pollution. The project is important because it will enlighten other organizations
and Filipinos to have initiative and be more responsible in taking care of the country and its natural
resources.

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III. Project Description

Objectives

The sole purpose of this project proposal is to lessen the severity of water pollution in Manila through
simple yet effective solution. Additionally, this also aims the following:

a. To prevent clustering of garbage that results in clogging of water channels.

b. To lessen the seriousness of floods during heavy rainfall.
c. To regulate the amount of garbage within the locality.
d. To reduce the cases of flood-caused diseases such as leptospirosis and mosquito-induced
illnesses.

Methodology

In order to obtain such, researchers would gather the necessary information needed for the proposal.
With the help of the internet and guidance of professionals, the researchers will have a thorough
background on the project itself. Also, the materials needed will be surveyed. Since the project would be
carry out in an estero in a barangay, the expected participants for the project are the locals, the barangay
officials and volunteers who would be a big help in the execution of the project. Moreover, to collect the
data needed, the researchers would conduct pre-surveys and post-surveys to the locals, also an interview
to the people living near the water-polluted areas.

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Timeline

The graphic organizer below would summarize the perceived time allotment for the project:

SEPTEMBER-
September Surveys, Interviews, and Estero Inspections
OCTOBER
2018
2018

NOVEMBER Data
2018 Analysis

DECEMBER Observing
2018 areas
involved

JANUARY 2019 Contact and

plan with the
barangay
officials
FEBRUARY Preparation
2019 of materials

MARCH 2019 Execution of

the project

Outcomes

In doing this project, these are the expected outcomes made by the researchers, although it
may take time to see the results, this project is expected to be successful for the following months.
Hence, the following are the outcomes and benefits of the finished project:
1. Complete cleanliness of the estero.
2. All the garbage floating in the water would pile up in a single place and taken to the dumping
site.
3. The possibility of not experiencing flood anymore in the said place.
4. Rehabilitation of the estero.

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 5. There will be no clogging of the waterways of estero.
6. No junk piled will mean insects carrying illnesses or diseases will decrease in population.
7. Less people will have sickness such as dengue in the area.
8. People will find it easier to maintain the cleanliness of the estero with the proper procedure.

Evaluation tool

Before the researchers conduct the project in the said area, the barangay officers will be asked
some questions related to the concerns in the area, the following are the sample questions ask by the
researchers:
1. Is the estero in your area have more garbage in it than in the past years?
2. Did you take an action to resolve the problem before? If so, was it effective?
3. How severe is the flooding in your area during intense rainfall?
4. How many cases of Dengue or any illnesses happened in your area?
5. How many hours/days do you think it needs to take off the piled trash out of the estero?

The following survey questionnaire will be given to the families living nearby the estero after the
project has conducted:

SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE

Please answer the following questions by placing a check in the box which corresponds to your
answer.

YES NO

1. Does it feel much cleaner in your area than

before?

2. Do you think that cases of mosquito-borne

diseases will now be lessened in your
community?

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 3. Do you think flooding during intense rainfall will
now decrease?

4. Was the project an effective way of cleaning

the estero?

5. Will it now be easier for your community to

maintain the cleanliness of the estero?

IV. Project Needs and Cost

Main Budget = 16,260php

Item Description Quantity Amount

Drag Nets (10x10m) 50pcs. 5,000php

Round Styrofoam Buoys 500pcs. 400php

Common Nails #2 5 kilos 860php

Fishing Net w/ handle 20pcs. 3,500php

Shovels 15pcs. 5,000php

Large Trash Bags 100pcs. 500php

Rope (40m) 1pc. 1000php

TOTAL: 16,260 php

Number of Personnel needed: 50 members

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 The project requires the following items and equipment listed above for the success of the project
and will be used for the cleanup of esteros in Manila. The main budget will be solely used for the purchase
of the listed items. It will, therefore, not be used for irrelevant costs. The budget listed is based on the
procurement of the items, hence not based on unreasonable estimation. The drag nets and round buoys
will be deployed near the ending of the estero where it is connected to the river. The reason behind this is
to collect all the incoming trash going to the river. The nails and rope will be used to place the net in a
strong position so that the current will not drag it away. Once the trash has been collected by the drag net,
it will then be picked by the volunteers using the fishing nets. The collected trash will then be compiled into
one place and shoveled into the large garbage bags. Once all the trash is in place, it will then be taken
away by a garbage truck and put on the proper dumping site. It is also estimated that the project will require
the assistance of 50 personnel or volunteers, in which the barangay officials will be the one to select.

REFERENCES

Aquino, A.P., Deriquito J.P., and Festejo, M.A. “Asia-Pacific Information Platform on Agricultural Policy-
Ecological Solid Waste Management Act: Environmental Protection Through Proper Solid Waste
Practice”. December 9, 2013. Retrieved September 5, 2018, from
http://ap.fftc.agnet.org/ap_db.php?id=153&print=1

Listanco, T. G. (2016). “How To Clean Up an Estero (With Zero Casualty)”. The Philippine Daily Inquirer.
September 25, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2018, from http://opinion.inquirer.net/97619/how-to-
clean-up-an-estero-with-zero-casualty

Manahan, J. (2018, March 01). Estero sa Maynila, nilinis ng Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission.
March 1, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018, from https://news.abs-
cbn.com/news/03/02/18/estero-sa-maynila-nilinis-ng-pasig-river-rehabilitation-commission

Molina, C. J. (2018, August 1). “ 'Cleaner', 'more alive' Estero de San Miguel in Manila”. August 1, 2018.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 5, 2018, from
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1016498/look-cleaner- more- alive-estero-de-san-miguel-in-
manila