Days of heavy monsoon rains washed a huge pile of trash into the Baclaran river channel in Parañaque City, collecting enough garbage to fill more than 200 trucks.

Since Monday, the Parañaque city government, MMDA, and DPWH have been working together in a joint cleanup operation. Heavy equipment like backhoes and dump trucks were brought in to help crews haul out over 203 tons of waste, plastic, and debris.

City officials explained that the buildup happened when strong habagat rains met high tides, pushing trash from Manila Bay and nearby neighborhoods straight into the waterway. The blocked channel raised fears of severe flooding for families and businesses living near the area.

To prevent the water from rising further, cleanup workers have been braving knee-deep, dirty water from early morning until late at night to scoop out trash by hand and with nets.

Local officials are asking the public to practice proper waste disposal and stop throwing trash into rivers and canals, reminding everyone that keeping waterways clean is the best way to prevent dangerous floods during the rainy season. READ MORE: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2284444/over-200-truckloads-of-garbage-hauled-from-paranaque-water-channel