Once the Tullahan River is cleaned up, it can be developed as an alternative transport route for people and goods to ease traffic on Metro Manila’s streets, an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said, the Philippine News Agency (PNA) reports.
“If we can clean up and revive Tullahan River, this waterway can serve that purpose,” according to DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones .
He made the assessment after inspecting the river earlier this month, in preparation for the Tullahan cleanup scheme – one of the activities for rehabilitating the Manila Bay.
The DENR has scheduled the dredging of the Tullahan River for this year to remove silt and trash that accumulated over the years. The debris continues to pollute water, reducing water-carrying capacity and impeding water flow.
Accumulation of silt and trash has also affected the biodiversity of this waterway, Leones added.
The Tullahan River flows from Quezon City to the cities of Valenzuela and Malabon, before discharging into Manila Bay.