The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has employed more than 100 workers to augment the agency’s workforce in the ongoing clean-up operations of the metropolis.

The new employees, mostly residents of flood-stricken cities, were hired as kamineros through the agency’s mobile recruitment program in Marikina City, coming from the hardest-hit areas in Marikina, namely Malanday, Nangka (Balubad), and Tumana.

MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando ordered the hiring of new personnel to speed up the clearing operations in Marikina and to help affected residents cope up with the damages wrought by Ondoy.

“We hired these people to help us in our operations here in Marikina. Also, giving them jobs is our own way of helping them recover financially,” the MMDA chief said.

The mobile recruitment team of MMDA will continue to accept and process applications at the Command Center at the Marikina City Hall grounds. On orders of Fernando, they will employ 50 persons per barangay.

The agency will also be effecting the recruitment in other areas affected by Ondoy.

Meanwhile, 13 days after putting up the Command Center in Marikina City, Fernando said 80 percent of the city has already been cleaned-up and cleared of garbage and mud, assuring residents of flood-stricken areas in Pasig and Taguig City that help is under way.

He said the agency will start aiding the local government units of Pasig and Taguig in its clean-up efforts next week since most of the affected areas are now accessible as flood has receded significantly