With huge garbage pile up as culprit in widespread flooding along roadways during incessant rains, the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) has geared up to help in waste management problems in key cities and towns.
Arrey Perez, MPTC Chief Regulatory Officer, said that their firm would help in garbage collection in communities especially those that traverse expressways.
The company under the MVP Group operates the NLEX, SCTEX, CAVITEX and other tollroads.
At the height of severe tropical storm Crising, the Valenzuela section of NLEX was rendered impassable to all types of vehicles as floodwaters rose. Government authorities pointed to garbage from surrounding communities to be a major cause of the inundation.
As floods receded, the floating trash was seen on cyclone wires that serve as fence of NLEX Valenzuela section. Some portion of the cyclone fence were also destroyed due to heavy flow of garbage-laden floodwaters.
Garbage on waterways was also reported to be the cause of floods in many cities and towns especially in Metro Manila.
“We will adopt rivers and creeks in tandem with the LGUs,” Perez said in a text message.
He said that MPTC is committed to working with LGUs and communities to clear clogged and polluted tributaries, creeks, and rivers. It would invest in more flood mitigating measures.
Aside from helping in garbage problems, the MPTC will now also be “adopting orphaned bridges” along their tollroads which maintenance has been unaddressed as host LGUs and DPWH still settle responsibility issues. The MPTC’s concession agreement with the government covers only the roadways under the bridges of expressways.
