QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources National Capital Region (DENR NCR) deployed yesterday "Estero Rangers" to clean different waterways along Manila, Mandaluyong, and San Juan City.

The Estero Rangers gathered early Wednesday morning at the Baywalk area—the coastal promenade that stretches from the US Embassy down to the Manila Yacht Club in Ermita, Manila—to pick trash and other floating debris on the waters of Manila Bay.

The Estero Rangers from other cities were temporarily pulled off their original assignments to help in the cleanup in the area.

The regional office, through its West Field Office (WFO) has nine (9) assigned Coastal Rangers at the baywalk area.

However, as wind patterns changed in Manila Bay due to the onset of the rainy season, an extraordinary amount of trash from inland sources kept on showing ashore, overwhelming the efforts of Coastal Rangers assigned in the area.

This prompted Regional Executive Director Jacqueline A. Caancan to order the deployment of Estero Rangers from other areas. 

Joining the Estero Rangers are some personnel from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Manila City Hall’s Department of Public Services.

The cleanup activity resulted in the recovery of 521 sacks of mixed trash, together with 356 bamboo and wooden poles. (DENR NCR/PIA-NCR)