Manila’s Mayor expresses concern about piles of uncollected garbage
(MENAFN) The mayor of Manila, one of the world’s most crowded cities, has raised concerns about a looming health emergency caused by accumulating piles of uncollected garbage in the Philippine capital.
Francisco Domagoso, who recently took office, has urged nearly two million residents to hold off on disposing of their trash until the city secures new waste collection services.
Domagoso revealed that the city’s two rubbish collection contractors abruptly quit, citing unpaid dues amounting to millions of dollars. He hopes the city council will soon declare a health emergency to tackle the mounting crisis.
“If possible, if only just for a while, please delay bringing your trash out. Keep it inside your homes until we normalise the collection of garbage in Manila,” he appealed in a Facebook video.
Describing the accumulated waste as a foul “eyesore,” Domagoso warned of its dangers, especially to vulnerable groups like the elderly, the ill, and children. He highlighted that insects hovering over trash could contaminate food.
Known also by his screen name Isko Moreno, the former teen idol won the recent election on promises to “Make Manila Great Again.”
On Tuesday, he led efforts to wash down the downtown streets with water and soap sprayed from fire trucks, signaling a renewed focus on cleanliness. During his previous term as mayor, which ended in 2022, street cleaning was one of his top priorities.
In 2019, while cleaning near city hall, Domagoso accidentally stepped on human waste—a vivid reminder of the challenges facing the city.
His earlier campaign earned him national popularity, although his 2022 presidential bid was unsuccessful, losing to the current president.
On Monday, Domagoso confirmed that two waste collection firms, PhilEco and MetroWaste, had ended their contracts due to the city owing them 400 million pesos (around $7 million).
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