A wastepicker wades through garbage using a makeshift raft made from styrofoam on the Estero de Vitas river in Tondo, Manila. Noel Celis, AFP

MANILA - Barangay chairpersons in Metro Manila will now face possible charges before the Office of the Ombudsman if they fail to maintain the cleanliness of esteros and other waterways within their jurisdiction.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Emerson Carlos on Tuesday said they have forged a partnership with the Ombudsman regarding the possible filing of complaints against erring village chiefs who will neglect their duty to maintain the cleanliness of waterways in their respective areas.

"In-advise na natin, ini-instruct natin mga barangay chairman to maintain cleanliness ng mga estero after we clean them; otherwise, they will be liable to the Ombudsman," Carlos said.

"Lahat ng aming accomplishment report sa 'Estero Blitz,' binibigyan namin sila ng kopya ng pictures ng before and after namin linisin... Please maintain the cleanliness as it is. Pag bumalik kami later on at hindi na-maintain cleanliness, we would be forced to inform the Ombudsman," he added.

Carlos stressed that the regular clean-up of waterways should be a shared responsibility between the MMDA, local officials and the public as well.

This is part of the three-pronged approach the MMDA has been implementing to prevent flooding in Metro Manila.

With the onset of the rainy season, however, the agency still expects flooding in at least 85 identified flood-prone areas in the metropolis, especially when rainfall intensity is more than 50 mm per hour.

WATCH: MMDA releases list of flood-prone areas in Metro Manila

Carlos nonetheless assured that they have already upgraded their pumping stations. The agency has 54 pumping stations.

"We have updated the 12 biggest pumping stations and its pumping capacity increased by 25 percent," he said.

He added that they also recalibrated their flood control operating system, allowing their flood gates to divert flood waters to bigger basins such as the Laguna Lake.