Legarda calls for action: ‘Drainage hanapin, drainage linisin’

With one month to go before the year ends, 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,” she declared.

Legarda 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. Let us not wait for another disaster to act. This should be our responsibility, starting at the barangay level,” she emphasized.

A long-time advocate of environmental protection and climate action, Legarda 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.

The four-term senator 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.

“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.”

Legarda 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. (30)

Legarda nanawagan: ‘Drainage hanapin, drainage linisin’

Isang buwan bago matapos ang taon, nanawagan si Senadora Loren Legarda sa lahat ng barangay sa bansa na magsagawa ng “drainage hanapin, drainage linisin” drive. Layunin nitong matukoy at malinis ang mga kanal at daluyan ng tubig upang maiwasan ang pagbaha, sakit na dala ng lamok, at kontaminasyon ng tubig sa mga komunidad.

“Regalo ito ng kaligtasan para sa ating pamilya at regalo ng malasakit para sa kalikasan. Drainage hanapin, drainage linisin: gawin natin itong sama samang handog sa pagtatapos ng 2025,” pahayag ni Legarda.

Binanggit ng senadora ang datos mula sa Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) na nagsasabing 22 bagyo na ang pumasok sa Philippine Area of Responsibility ngayong taon, at inaasahan pang may isa o dalawa bago matapos ang Disyembre.

“Bawat baha ay paalala ng ating pagkukulang. Huwag na tayong maghintay ng isa pang sakuna bago kumilos. Responsibilidad natin ito, magsimula sa barangay level,” diin ni Legarda.

Matagal nang tagapagtanggol ng kalikasan at climate action, binigyang diin ng senadora na ang baradong drainage ang pangunahing sanhi ng pagbaha, imbakan ng tubig na pinamumugaran ng lamok, at pagkalat ng mga waterborne diseases—mga problemang kayang bawasan sa pamamagitan ng simpleng, tuloy tuloy na aksyon ng komunidad.

“Dapat magtulungan ang mga lider at residente ng barangay upang i mapa ang mga kanal at daluyan ng tubig, magsagawa ng regular na clean up, mahigpit na ipatupad ang Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, at magmobilisa ng monitoring teams bago at pagkatapos ng malakas na ulan. Kailangan din ang community education campaigns para ipaalala sa bawat tahanan na ang pagtatapon ng basura sa kanal ay ilegal at delikado,” pahayag ni Legarda.

Dagdag pa ni Legarda, dapat magpatupad ang mga barangay ng epektibong praktis gaya ng pagtakda ng clean up days, pakikipag ugnayan sa mga paaralan para isama ang mga estudyante sa awareness drives, at paglalagay ng malinaw na signage sa mga daluyan ng tubig upang hadlangan ang pagtatapon ng basura. Hinihikayat din niya ang composting at recycling upang mabawasan ang dami ng basurang napupunta sa drainage systems.

Itinuro ng senadora ang ulat ng Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) na nakapagtala ng mahigit 600 toneladang basura mula sa 71 pumping stations at binahang lugar sa Metro Manila noong Hulyo 18–22, 2025. Ayon sa awtoridad, direktang binara ng naipong basura ang mga drainage, nakasagabal sa pumping operations, at lalong nagpalala ng pagbaha.

“Pinatutunayan nito ang agarang pangangailangan ng aking panawagan. Ang barangay ang ating frontline sa disaster prevention. Walang national plan na magtatagumpay kung ang mga kanal sa komunidad ay barado ng plastik, household waste, at construction debris,” giit ni Legarda.

Bilang pangunahing may akda ng Ecological Solid Waste Management Act at Climate Change Act, muling iginiit ng senadora na ang mga batas ay nagiging epektibo lamang kapag ipinatutupad sa grassroots level. “Bawat barangay na naglilinis at nagpoprotekta ng drainage system ay ipinatutupad ang mga batas na ito sa pinaka direkta at nakapagliligtas na paraan,” dagdag niya.

Sa pagtatapos, binigyang diin ni Legarda na ang “Drainage hanapin, drainage linisin” ay dapat maging action plan sa bawat barangay at bawat tahanan—isang araw araw na gawi na pumipigil sa baha, nagpoprotekta sa kalusugan, at nagtataguyod ng mas ligtas na komunidad. (30)