THE flashfloods that paralyzed Metro Manila last week should serve as a stern warning against litterbugs who continue to indiscriminately dump garbage, a waste and pollution watchdog said yesterday.

The EcoWaste Coalition made this observation following the floods that caused traffic gridlocks and paralyzed schools and businesses in the metropolis, stressing that it is “payback time” for uncaring citizens who have become so accustomed to simply dumping their discards anywhere they please.

“Our study shows that this ugly habit of littering and dumping persists because of the people’s lack of awareness and appreciation of their shared responsibility to care for, nurture and protect the environment,” said Ben Galindo, a member of the EcoWaste Coalition’s steering committee.

A study conducted by the group revealed that some people are just too lazy to find the proper bins for their discards, and tend to litter in places where rubbish already exists.

The group lamented that some people think that littering is alright because there are people being paid to clean up after them. 

Cigarette butts, candy wrappers or bus tickets are items that can clog canals, and can even cause injury and death to wildlife.

“The efforts to clear the storm water inlets, drainage systems and open waterways by government workers are no match to remorseless littering and dumping. We need to complement the flood-mitigating measures being implemented by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and local authorities by ecologically managing our discards and ensuring that minor and major drains are kept free from garbage and other obstructions,” emphasized Galindo, who also chairs the Sagip Pasig Movement.

The coalition warned that improper trash disposal, aside from blocking waterways and causing floods, also spreads pathogens that can cause leptospirosis and other water-borne diseases, such as cholera, diarrhea, hepatitis A and typhoid fever.

THE military started attacking three positions of the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan province on Sunday, a day after the bandits and soldiers figured in a daylong close-quarters battle that led to the death of 15 Marines and more than 40 Abu Sayyaf members.

TYPHOON Egay killed three people and affected thousands of families, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported on Sunday.

THE government stands to lose, initially, over P16 billion in waived import tax revenue under the proposed Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa) that Malacañang has asked the Senate to ratify.

THE opening of the mothballed Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (Naia 3) would be hastened in the wake of the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes’ (Icsid) decision to junk the complaint filed by German port operator Fraport AG against the government, a senior airport official said.

THE flashfloods that paralyzed Metro Manila last week should serve as a stern warning against litterbugs who continue to indiscriminately dump garbage, a waste and pollution watchdog said yesterday.

THE Supreme Court (SC), voting 15-0, has issued a ruling stopping the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) from implementing an executive order which authorizes the agency to shut down provincial bus terminals and major thoroughfares of Metro Manila as part of the government’s campaign to ease traffic congestion.