Marikina City received another accolade after clinching the 2024 Kaagapay sa Kalusugan at Kapaligiran for Sewer Coverage Award from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS RO).
Achieving an impressive 81 percent sewer coverage, Marikina City bested Pasay City (48 percent) and the City of Manila (45 percent) for the award.
Mayor Marcy Teodoro received the recognition from MWSS RO Chief Regulator Patrick Lester Ty at the Marikina City Hall.
The awarding was witnessed by Marikina 2nd District Rep. Maan Teodoro.
“Pinagtibay ng pagkilalang ito ang kakayahan ng lungsod pagdating sa wastewater management,” Rep. Teodoro said.
”Patunay rin ito na isa sa mga prayoridad ng Marikina ang kalinisan at kalusugan lalo na pagdating sa ating waste water management,” she added.
Marikina City was recently named as a recipient of the 2024 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) for the second straight year under Mayor Teodoro’s leadership.
Rep. Teodoro said the dedication and hard work of the city government’s officials and employees played a pivotal role in securing the award.
The local government recently initiated the dredging of the Marikina River as a major project, resulting in the significant reduction of severe flooding incidents during typhoons and heavy rains.
The project expanded the river’s width from 50 meters to almost 100 meters, increasing its water-carrying capacity and effectively preventing overflow and flooding.
The local government unit also purchased its own amphibious long-arm backhoe to improve the efficiency of the project.
Residents observed that the initiative has effectively reduced flooding, as floodwaters now quickly recede into the river in previous typhoons.
“Sobrang nagpapasalamat po kami sa Panginoon, at tsaka kay Ma’am Maan (Teodoro) at kay Mayor dahil nagawan po ng paraan,” said Joan Rebenito, a resident of Barangay Barangka.
“Malaking bagay po iyong paghuhukay dito, nalaliman po. Iyong dati at ngayon, iba po ngayon,” she added.
Judy Queno, a long-time resident of Barangay Tumana, welcomed the positive development since she had grown accustomed to severe flooding during her more than 30 years in the area.
“Hindi na umakyat. Wala na, wala nang tubig. Napaka-epektibo talaga. Ngayon lang namin ito narasanan. Isipin mo iyon,” she said.
Evelyn Soldevilla, another Tumana resident, said family now feels safer after years of adapting to floods that had previously destroyed their house and furniture.
”Nararamdaman namin na safe na kami dito sa lugar namin. Kung noong araw, kami yung unang-unang binabaha dito. Ngayon, kami na ngayon yung hindi nababaha,” she said.
