The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Valenzuela City government joined forces on Thursday to clean up the Meycauayan River to prevent flooding.

The cleanup, led by MMDA General Manager Procopio Lipana and Valenzuela Mayor Wes Gatchalian, is part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive after last month’s seven-hour gridlock along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) caused by heavy rains from tropical cyclone Crising and the southwest monsoon.

In a statement, Lipana said one backhoe, one crane, and four dump trucks were deployed for the cleanup and dredging operations.

“The cleanup is part of the Bayanihan sa Estero program of the MMDA, which was launched by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. last week,” he said.

In addition, MMDA Chair Romando Artes initiated coordination with the NLEX Corp. to further discuss flood mitigation measures on the expressway.

Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) chief regulatory officer Arrey Perez said a detention pond, with a capacity equivalent to eight Olympic-size swimming pools, would be built to help ease severe flooding during heavy rains.

“We need to have more engineering solutions and larger infrastructure to prepare for flooding incidents,” Perez said.

At least 8,100 cubic meters of waste and water lilies, equivalent to 450 truckloads, have already been removed from a single site.

The cleanup aims to clear 6,600 cubic meters of waste.

Officials anticipate the river will be cleared within two weeks to prepare for the upcoming typhoon season. (PNA)