The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is moving its cleanup and rehabilitation operation starting next week to the cities of Pasig and Taguig, two of the areas devastated by tropical storm “Ondoy,” saying that floodwaters would have receded in those areas by that time.

MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando said floodwaters in Pasig and Taguig have significantly receded and can now be accessed by the MMDA’s heavy equipment and workers.

“These communities need all the help they could get so we have to move fast and come to their aid. I hope the residents understand that we cannot just move in last week because of the floodwaters,” he said.

Fernando said their relief operations will still focus on collecting garbage, debris, and mud in the streets and unclogging drainages to speed up the dissipation of floodwaters.

He said almost 70 percent of Marikina has already been cleared of garbage and mud left by storm-induced floods.

 “We’re almost done here. We have moved to the secondary roads and inner streets so maybe next week, we can transfer to Pasig and Taguig and help in the relief and cleanup operations there,” the MMDA chief said.

Meanwhile, Fernando also announced that they will be going back to Provident Village to help homeowners get rid of tons of mud that have swamped their properties.

He said he has received reports that several unscrupulous firemen are charging villagers up to P10,000 in exchange for the use of their fire trucks.

“We will be doing this for free as part of our relief assistance efforts,” Fernando said, adding that the MMDA and its volunteers have about 11 fire trucks and water tanks at its disposal to wash away mud.

On the other hand, the MMDA is planning to dig up the banks of the Marikina River and nearby vacant lots where garbage collected from the main and secondary roads and villages could be buried temporarily.

Fernando explained that this is needed to hasten the removal and disposal of hundreds of tons of garbage being collected daily in the city.

The MMDA’s cleanup and relief operations in Marikina started a day after Ondoy’s onslaught that left the once clean and orderly city in ruins.

At the MMDA Command Center, Fernando has mobilized a total of 170 equipment and vehicles and at least 1,000 personnel for the extensive cleanup efforts, the biggest ever mobilization of MMDA equipment and workers in such calamity-related relief campaign.