The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will be deploying an additional water master dredger with rake attachment to control the proliferation of water hyacinth that hamper the waterflow and ferry boat operation in the Pasig River.
DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said that the DPWH Sagip Manila Bay Team reported its recent DPWH coordination meeting and inspection with concerned agencies which brought about the need to deploy more equipment to fast-track the removal of water hyacinth that also cause further pollution along the river flowing directly to Manila Bay.
“A 25-cubic meter trash skimmer near Jones Bridge is operating to clear the water hyacinth infestation in the area.”
“A 25-cubic meter trash skimmer near Jones Bridge is operating to clear the water hyacinth infestation in the area. One amphibious excavator and one trash skimmer were also deployed along Napindan River in Barangay Sta. Ana, Taytay, Rizal which is now almost free from piles of hyacinth,” Villar said.
DPWH has been clearing obstruction along Pasig River for over a year now, deploying several equipment to dredge the shallow areas of the river, and clear floating debris and hyacinth.
“A water master dredger with rake attachment will soon be deployed to remove water hyacinth along other areas of Pasig River like Lawton going to Malacañang.”
According to DPWH Bureau of Equipment Director Toribio Noel Ilao, a water master dredger with rake attachment will soon be deployed to remove water hyacinth along other areas of Pasig River like Lawton going to Malacañang.
“We are working with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) so we can address this issue soonest,” the public works chief stressed.
For their part, the LLDA has identified a 2-hectare spoil site for the collected water hyacinth while the MMDA is constructing permanent water hyacinth traps in several locations.