MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) has offered to help the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in addressing the problems of maintaining order and cleanliness along the major roads and waterways of the metropolis. The DoST came into the picture at the request of the MMDA in its bid to explore homegrown technology solutions to the problems.
MMDA has already held talks with a DoST team led by Assistant Secretary Robert Dizon and DoST spokesperson and Information Institute (STII) Director Raymund Liboro to identify areas that the two agencies can jointly work on.
As an offshoot of the talks, the DoST offered to look into the possibility of developing enzyme-based process to degrade or reduce harmful chemicals in garbage. The MMDA chief said one of their major problems is the fact that the garbage collected from all over Metro Manila poses serious threats to both human health and the environment.
“Daily we collect thousands of tons of garbage in Metro Manila, which contain residual chemicals harmful to humans and the environment,” he said.
He was, thus, hopeful that the DoST could do something to help him on the problem.
The DoST, on the other hand, offered to introduce bioremediation through the use of chemical wasteabsorbing plants and organisms, to accelerate the cleanup of the Pasig River and its tributaries.
Gabriel Mabutas, Manila Bulletin
