MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will be actively involving the public in its drive against litterbugs who indiscriminately dump their thrash that eventually clog Metro Manila's waterways and result in massive floods during the rainy season.

To kick off its massive clean-up of flood-prone areas and the re-implementation of the Anti-Littering Law, MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino on Sunday urged businessmen and the citizenry to help mitigate the effects of flooding in Metro Manila this rainy season by observing proper waste disposal and cleaning their own surroundings.

Tolentino said MMDA personnel are already coordinating with owners of business establishments and car dealers along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa), from Ortigas to Camp Crame, to help in the clean-up drive and clean those parts of Edsa directly fronting their stores.

"Every Metro Manilan can be a part of this effort, we can start by cleaning up the streets and not littering," said Tolentino, stressing that every piece of trash indiscriminately thrown ends up in the waterways which ultimately causes floods and endangers lives.

The MMDA is training some 500 volunteers on the basics of timely interventions and immediate response to flood victims during inclement weather situations.

Among those helping out the MMDA in this activity is the Philippine College of Surgeons which will hold lectures on basic life support among the 4000 organic personnel of the MMDA and volunteers who form part of the Inclement Weather Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan or "Oplan Unos" that will deliver the necessary disaster preparedness mechanisms during crisis situations.

On the planned massive clean-up of filthy areas in Manila and the stricter enforcement of the Anti-Littering Law, the MMDA said violators will pay fines, ranging from P500 to P1,000. In case the violator cannot afford to pay the prescribed administrative fines, he has the option to render community service.