Senator Loren Legarda urged all barangays nationwide to launch a year-end “drainage hanapin, drainage linisin” drive, calling on communities to locate and clean their drainage systems to prevent flooding, mosquito-borne illnesses, and water contamination in communities.
“This is a gift of safety for our families and a gift of care for nature. Drainage hanapin, drainage linisin: let this be our collective offering as we close 2025,” Legarda declared.
The veteran legislator cited data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) that 22 tropical cyclones have already entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility this year, with one to two more expected before December closes, underscoring the need for urgent prevention measures.
“Every flood reminds us of what we failed to do.”
“Every flood reminds us of what we failed to do. Let us not wait for another disaster to act. This should be our responsibility, starting at the barangay level,” the seasoned lawmaker emphasized.
A long-time advocate of environmental protection and climate action, the lady senator stressed that clogged drainage is a leading cause of flooding, stagnant water where mosquitoes breed, and the spread of waterborne diseases, all of which can be reduced through simple, consistent community action.
“Barangay leaders and residents must work together to map canals and waterways, conduct regular clean-ups, strictly enforce the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, and mobilize monitoring teams to check drainage before and after heavy rains. I also call for community education campaigns to remind households that throwing trash into canals is both illegal and dangerous,” she said.
Legarda added that barangays should adopt effective practices such as scheduling clean-up days, coordinating with local schools to involve students in awareness drives, and installing visible signage near waterways to discourage dumping. She also encouraged composting and recycling initiatives to reduce the volume of waste that ends up in drainage systems.
Legarda pointed to recent data from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), which reported collecting more than 600 tons of garbage from 71 pumping stations and flooded areas in Metro Manila between July 18 and 22, 2025. Authorities said the accumulated trash directly blocked drainage systems, hampered pumping operations, and worsened flooding.
“No national plan will succeed if canals at the community level remain clogged with plastic, household waste, and construction debris.”
“This confirms the urgency of my appeal. Barangays are our frontlines of disaster prevention. No national plan will succeed if canals at the community level remain clogged with plastic, household waste, and construction debris,” she said.
“As principal author of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and the Climate Change Act, I have always said that laws are only effective when implemented at the grassroots level,” Legarda added. “Every barangay that cleans and protects its drainage system is enforcing these laws in the most direct, life-saving way.”
She concluded by stressing that “Drainage hanapin, drainage linisin” must be an action plan in every barangay and every home, a daily habit that prevents floods, protects health, and builds safer communities.
