Barely hours into his first day in office, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso declared the city’s mounting garbage problem a public emergency and ordered immediate cleanup efforts during a live broadcast on Monday, June 30.
Mayor Domagoso issued his first directive as he informed the public that the existing contract with garbage collector MetroWaste officially ended on Monday, June 30. Another city garbage collector, PhilEco, had sent a letter requesting payment and assistance in hauling accumulated waste.
The mayor warned that uncollected garbage may increase throughout the week as the city transitions to new arrangements.
To address the crisis, he mobilized emergency measures, including intensified waste collection, cleanup operations, stricter enforcement of anti-littering laws, and the temporary enlistment of unpaid contractor Leonel Waste Management to haul garbage for free.
Domagoso revealed that current garbage collectors have not yet been fully paid by the previous administration.
“Katulad ng isinaad ng sulat ng MetroWaste at PhilEco, napatunayan na hindi rin sila binayaran. Noong Enero 2025 lang sila nabayaran,” he said.
He added that around P950 million is needed to settle the payments for collected waste.
The city averages around 2,000 metric tons of garbage collected daily, a figure expected to rise now that contracts with the collectors ended.
Domagoso also bared that the previous garbage contractor, Leonel Waste Management, was similarly unpaid.
“I’m telling you straight, bilang inyong alkalde, buong kabaang loob ako na nakiusap sa Leonel Waste Management, for old time’s sake, dahil matagal naman silang nagserbisyo at naghanap buhay sa Maynila, nakiusap ako na kung pwede hakutin muna nila ang basura ng Maynila ngayong araw ng libre, Domagoso said.
The mayor said Leonel collectors would start going around Manila by 2 p.m. to collect and haul garbage.
All concerned units and barangay officials of the local government were ordered to utilize all equipment available to clean the city until this “dangerous problem” is resolved.
Domagoso stressed the urgency of solving the waste management crisis, which poses serious health and environmental risks to Manila’s residents.
He also called on barangay officials to take responsibility for garbage management in their communities and encouraged residents to cooperate in maintaining cleanliness.
While acknowledging that the problem will not be solved overnight, Moreno emphasized that urgent and coordinated action must begin immediately. (Diann Ivy Calucin)
