MANILA—With a month left before the year ends, Senator Loren Legarda has called on all barangays nationwide to launch a year-end “drainage hanapin, drainage linisin” drive to help prevent flooding, mosquito-borne illnesses, and water contamination in communities.

“This is a gift of safety for our families and a gift of care for nature. Drainage hanapin, drainage linisin: let this be our collective offering as we close 2025,” she said.

Legarda cited data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration showing that 22 tropical cyclones have entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility this year, with one to two more expected before December ends. The numbers, she said, highlight the urgency of preventive action.

“Every flood reminds us of what we failed to do. Let us not wait for another disaster to act. This should be our responsibility, starting at the barangay level,” she added.

A long-time advocate of environmental protection and climate action, Legarda emphasized that clogged drainage systems contribute to flooding, stagnant water where mosquitoes breed, and the spread of waterborne diseases—problems that she said can be minimized through simple but consistent community efforts.

“Barangay leaders and residents must work together to map canals and waterways, conduct regular clean-ups, strictly enforce the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, and mobilize monitoring teams to check drainage before and after heavy rains. I also call for community education campaigns to remind households that throwing trash into canals is both illegal and dangerous,” she said.

She encouraged barangays to adopt practices such as scheduling clean-up days, involving schools in awareness efforts, and installing signage near waterways to discourage dumping. Composting and recycling initiatives, she added, would help reduce waste ending up in drainage systems.

Legarda also referred to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority data showing that over 600 tons of garbage were collected from 71 pumping stations and flooded areas in Metro Manila from July 18 to 22, 2025. The accumulated trash, authorities said, clogged drainage systems, hindered pumping operations, and worsened flooding.

“This confirms the urgency of my appeal. Barangays are our frontlines of disaster prevention. No national plan will succeed if canals at the community level remain clogged with plastic, household waste, and construction debris,” she said.

“As principal author of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and the Climate Change Act, I have always said that laws are only effective when implemented at the grassroots level,” she added. “Every barangay that cleans and protects its drainage system is enforcing these laws in the most direct, life-saving way.”

Legarda said “drainage hanapin, drainage linisin” should become a regular action plan for barangays and households, calling it a daily habit that prevents floods, protects public health, and helps build safer communities.