Manila, July 23 -- The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has so far collected 603.723 tons of garbage in cleaning operations across the National Capital Region (NCR) following the floods caused by the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat).

A total of 526.8 tons of garbage were collected from NCR's 71 pumping stations from July 18 to 22, in addition to 26.37 truckloads or 76.923 tons of garbage hauled from cleanup operations from various areas in NCR from July 21 to 22.

During an inspection of the Tripa de Gallina Pumping Station on Wednesday, MMDA Chair Romando Artes said cleanup drives are meant to ensure the unhampered operations of NCR's drainages and pumping stations.

The operations are in line with President Ferdinan...