Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso appealed to residents not to bring out their garbage until collection trucks arrive, as he announced urgent contingency measures to prevent a sanitation crisis following the permanent closure of the Navotas Sanitary Landfill (NSLF) on Tuesday, Aug. 26.
“Baka lang magkaroon ng delay, kaya ipinakikisuyo ko na kung pupwede, wag muna ilabas ang basura hangga’t hindi dumadating ang truck,” the mayor said, citing the logistical challenges ahead.
Domagoso confirmed that the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) had officially advised the city to begin diverting its solid waste to the New San Mateo Sanitary Landfill (NSMSLF) in Rizal starting Aug. 27.
“Ngayon, magkakaroon na ng pagbagal,” he noted. “Dahil sa advanced information na nakuha ko, two weeks ago pa tayo naghahanda.”
He said he had directed Department of Public Services (DPS) Director Kenneth Amurao to coordinate with waste contractors and prepare for the added logistical burden, primarily the longer distance from Manila to San Mateo, which is approximately 30 kilometers away compared to Navotas’ 10-kilometer proximity.
The closure of the Navotas facility also eliminates the city’s use of garbage barges via R-10, which had previously expedited waste disposal operations.
“Hindi pa natin alam ang mangyayari kapag sabay-sabay bumiyahe ang mga truck sa Commonwealth,” Domagoso explained.
“Kapag nasa San Mateo na ang queuing… it will take time, babagal ang balikan.”
He warned that the situation could worsen given that 17 local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila, along with some from Rizal Province, will now be sharing a single landfill.
He emphasized that improperly discarded trash, especially during the rainy season, clogs the city’s drainage systems, worsens flooding, and increases the risk of disease outbreaks such as leptospirosis, which has already affected 260 people in Manila this year.
Meanwhile, additional trucks from private contractor Leonel Waste are being deployed in coordination with the Department of Public Services (DPS) to address time-and-motion challenges and speed up garbage collection amid the transition. (Diann Calucin)
