The Philippines is Full Of Hazardous Waste

While it is well known the Philippines is a rather rotten place in just about every metric perhaps the depth of that rottenness is unfathomable. As Filipinos go about their day smiling and selling wares and tourists go swimming in the beaches, they are surrounded by hazardous waste and garbage the likes of which they have no idea. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1280492

Over PHP3 billion worth of radioactive-bearing industrial materials, contaminated production equipment and structurally substandard finished steel products were confiscated in a raid on July 18 at Chuangxing Steel Inc. in Magalang, Pampanga, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said on Tuesday.

The ad hoc body said the operation was jointly carried out with the National Bureau of Investigation, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Health and the municipalityof Magalang after months-long intelligence gathering, technical assessment and interagency coordination.

"The operation was conducted to address possible violations involving substandard steel products, radioactive-bearing industrial materials, worker safety, environmental protection, and Republic Act No. 12305, or the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act," the PAOCC said in a statement.

The agency cited that in last Monday's State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., cited the need for safe and disaster-resilient infrastructure as well as the need to update the building code.

"The integrity of every structure begins with the integrity of the materials used to build it," the PAOCC said.

The PAOCC said independent laboratory examinations showed that reinforcing steel bars bearing “CX” marking did not pass mandatory structural quality requirements under the Philippine National Standards.

"The operation stopped the continued manufacture and nationwide distribution of construction materials that could pose a serious danger to public safety and national resilience," it said.

The PAOCC said every Filipino has the right to expect that the materials used “in our homes and public infrastructure are safe, strong and compliant with national standards.”

During the operation, 347 Filipino workers and 37 Chinese nationals were secured and removed from the hazardous industrial conditions inside the facility. Four company officers were also arrested along with the evidence obtained during the investigation.

Government inspections uncovered serious labor and workplace safety violations, including wage-related violations, unpaid mandatory employee benefits, lack of occupational safety and health programs, absence of personal protective equipment and use of unsafe machinery and industrial processes.

The PAOCC said the workers were exposed to chemical, radiological and industrial hazards present in raw materials, refractory components, production equipment, industrial dust, slag, wastewater, transport vehicles, environmental samples and finished steel products.

"Radioactive materials cannot be treated like ordinary waste,” PAOCC said.

The PAOCC said the Department of Health has identified 10 workers who “have suspected occupational radiological exposure.”

It said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has also ordered to immediately stop the operation of the company.

“Based on their assessment, conditions at the facility pose an imminent, grave and potentially irreversible threat to worker safety, public health, and environmental integrity,” it added.

The PAOCC said they also discovered that the Philippine peso coins are being melted down and processed as industrial feedstock.

It said filing of charges has been recommended for violation of Republic Act 12305 or Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act; RA 6969 or Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act; Presidential Decree No. 1586; RA 8749 or Philippine Clean Air Act; and RA 7394 or Consumer Act of the Philippines.

While this operation stopped the distribution of these radioactive materials, the broader question remains:  how much of those materials are now in fully constructed buildings?

More substandard and radioactive steel was found in Davao City. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/756893/authorities-seize-radioactive-substandard-steel-at-davao-city-plant

Law enforcement agencies in the Philippines seized suspected radioactive and substandard steel reinforcement bars during a raid on a manufacturing facility in Davao City, according to a Friday statement from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

The PAOCC stated that Thursday’s operation was carried out via a search warrant. This followed a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) inquiry into accusations that the facility located in Barangay Ilang, Bunawan, manufactured and distributed defective steel bars.

“Technical examinations confirmed the presence of radioactive isotopes, including Uranium-238, Thorium-228, Thorium-232, and Radium-226, across different stages and areas of the company’s operations,” the task force noted.

“These were documented in finished ‘DMS’ rebars, furnace-related materials, residual black sand, industrial powders, dust, wastes, wastewater, and other production and stored materials,” it further explained.

PAOCC said operatives “rescued” 174 Filipinos working at the plant.

This “[removed] them from an industrial environment subsequently found to contain radioactive-bearing materials, dust, fumes, wastes, and production residues that posed risks of continued occupational exposure,” it maintained.

Further, the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute certified that the company that owned the plant had no license to acquire, receive, possess, use, store, sell, transfer, import or export nuclear or radioactive materials, the PAOCC added.

Likewise, according to the commission, an inspection by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources found that the company’s environmental compliance certificate did not authorize them to handle, process, store or use radioactive materials in the plant.

PAOCC also noted that the recovered reinforcing steel bars underwent product-standard testing.

“Of eight samples purchased from commercial hardware establishments across Mindanao, four, or 50 percent, failed the mandatory mass-variation requirement under PNS (Philippine National Standard) 49:2020,” it detailed.

PNS 49:2020 is set by the Bureau of Philippine Standards for reinforcing steel bars.

The commission noted that the recovery of the allegedly radioactive and substandard reinforcing steel bars were in the public interest, citing that NBI investigators had found “DMS”-marked reinforcing steel bars supposedly in the rubble of structures that collapsed during the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that shook Mindanao last June 8.

“Authorities stressed, however, that the presence of DMS rebars in the collapsed structures does not by itself establish that the steel caused their collapse,” the commission noted.

“Determining the cause of the structural failures remains subject to appropriate engineering assessment,” it added.

According to the commission, the NBI has referred a case against the company that owned the plant for allegedly violating the following:

• Republic Act No. 12305 or the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act
• RA No. 6969 or the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act
• Presidential Decree No. 1586 or the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System
• RA No. 7394 or the Consumer Act

The PAOCC did not immediately say whether any arrests were made as a result of the operation or how much the seized evidence was valued.

Likewise a raid in Misamis turned up radioactive steel. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2231394/radioactive-materials-found-in-raided-misamis-steel-plant

While waiting to be documented by authorities on Monday, “Al,” a man in his 30s, told the Inquirer that he and other workers have not felt anything wrong with their bodies so far, in the years working at the plant operated here by Philippine Sanjia-Steel Corp., where experts have found “radiologically contaminated steel” in the premises.

Al and his coworkers said they were not bothered about the alleged hazards detected at the plant, following last week’s raid that resulted in the arrest of least 69 Chinese nationals.

After all, Al said, “We are still here and very much alive.”

“Frankly, what we are worried about is losing our jobs and finding new ones; Sanjia pays well,” Al said in an interview. Three other workers nearby agreed.

In a briefing held in Metro Manila on Tuesday, Undersecretary Benjamin Acorda, executive director of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), said experts from the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) had found radioactive materials in different parts of the plant, indicating a serious hazard faced by its workers as well as environmental risks to the community.

Teresa Salabit, PNRI radiation safeguards and security specialist, said the plant’s raw materials “have matched the presence of naturally occurring radioactive thorium.”

“The radioactive materials that are present in the site have already been contained, have been marked, and will be turned over to the authorities as evidence,” Salabit told reporters at Camp Crame via teleconference.

Supported by Army, Coast Guard, and Air Force teams, agents of the National Bureau of Investigation joined the PAOCC officials on Friday last week in serving a search warrant issued by a Cagayan de Oro City court on Sanjia for alleged violations of immigration, labor, and nuclear safety regulations.

It's truly an epidemic posing a grave danger to the entire country. 

In Baguio businesses have been shut down due to being not only illegal but also unsanitary. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/07/06/1080-unsanitary-illegal-businesses-in-baguio-face-closure

At least 1,080 business establishments in the city are facing closure for operating without permits or violating sanitation regulations, an official said.

Geraldine Angulo, acting head of the Permits and Licensing Division under the City Mayor's Office, said about 60 percent of the closure orders involve businesses operating without permits or are non-compliant with sanitation standards.

"Most of the affected establishments were tank fabrication shops, brick-making businesses, auto repair shops, eateries, sari-sari (retail) stores, and one junk shop," Angulo said.

The violations were uncovered during inspections in 50 barangays from Jan. 1 to July 3.

Among the violations cited were operating without a business permit, violating Tax Ordinance No. 2000-001 and Presidential Decree No. 856 or the Sanitation Code of the Philippines, through improper garbage disposal, poor housekeeping, clogged drainage canals, debris accumulation, encroachment on public roads, and construction materials obstructing streets.

Some establishments were also found selling products or offering services not covered by their business permits and were advised to apply for additional business lines to comply with regulations, Angulo said.

She said 27 establishments immediately corrected the violations after being notified, while 17 complied after closure orders were issued. Another 18 had already ceased operations before the closure orders could be served.

The city government intensified enforcement of business and sanitation regulations in the last quarter of 2025 to promote fair trade and protect public health and safety.

Inspection efforts were further expanded, particularly among food establishments, following a viral video showing a rodent in a pot of soup served in a buffet restaurant.

"We will continue to conduct inspection and closure operations in more barangays as part of the local government's intensified campaign to improve sanitation, ensure business compliance, and maintain public order throughout the city," Angulo said.

Earlier, the city's sanitation division of the Health Services Office conducted training and briefings for business owners on the sanitation code, emphasizing pest control as a requirement for the issuance of business permits.

While not hazardous in the same way that radioactive building materials are, "a rodent in a pot of soup" is quite hazardous to one's health. Likewise clogging drainage canals and obstructing streets with garbage is also hazardous to the safety of the community. 

Negros  Occidental has a different hazardous waste problem. Hospitals are filled with tons of barrels of waste some of which are decades old and have been sitting in storage on hospital grounds. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2276750/decades-old-medical-waste-from-4-negros-occidental-hospitals-disposed

Over 111 metric tons of hazardous medical waste that had accumulated for over three decades in four government-run hospitals in Negros Occidental were removed and transported to a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-accredited treatment facility between June and August this year, provincial officials said.

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the move was part of the province’s continuing hospital cleanup program.

The operation was carried out by pollution control officers under the Provincial Administrator’s Office.

The hazardous materials, which had accumulated in septic vaults and storage areas for over three decades, were removed from Gov. Valeriano M. Gatuslao Memorial Hospital in Himamaylan City, Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital in Kabankalan City, Don Salvador Benedicto Memorial District Hospital in La Carlota City, and Ignacio L. Arroyo Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Isabela town.

The latest cleanup follows similar waste-clearing operations previously conducted at Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital, Cadiz District Hospital, and Valladolid District Hospital.

Diaz said the effort reflects the provincial government’s commitment to strengthening health and safety standards in public healthcare facilities and ensuring the proper management and disposal of medical waste.

“The hospital cleanup continues with Urban Hazmat Transport until we perfect the cycle of proper monitoring, packing, and responsible disposal of medical waste,” Diaz said.

Provincial officials said the ongoing initiative is aimed at preventing environmental and health risks associated with improperly stored healthcare waste while improving waste management practices across government hospitals in Negros Occidental.

That article is from 2026. But in 2025 Negros Occidental was employing the same program to help other hospitals which were also filled with barrels of waste.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2090640/negros-occidental-hires-firm-to-dispose-of-hazardous-hospital-waste

The Negros Occidental provincial government has hired a company to properly dispose of hazardous waste from two of its hospitals, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Friday, August 1.

The disposal was done to ensure the hospitals are compliant with the requirements of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Health (DOH) for medical institutions to operate in a safe and healthy environment, he said.

The contractor, Urban Hazmat Transport, has already finished removing hazardous waste from the Cadiz District Hospital in Cadiz City and the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, he said.

The company hauled 111,111 kilograms of hospital waste from the two facilities to a treatment plant in Cavite province.

The waste had previously been buried and stored in septic vaults at the two hospitals.

Diaz said the two hospitals were prioritized because the Cadiz District Hospital served as a COVID-19 center during the pandemic, and the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital was home to a molecular laboratory, making its waste more hazardous than others.

The provincial government paid P10 million for the waste removal, he said.

Another purchase order will be signed for the disposal of hazardous waste from the province’s other hospitals.

While the Silay City hospital has an incinerator, it only has the capacity to handle current waste, not the backlog, Diaz said.

"Buried and stored in septic vaults!" That is a staggering institutional failure.  It would be so much easier and cheaper to have it hauled away by a proper disposal company. But as we have seen before some of these hospitals actually clandestinely dump their waste in rivers or other areas. 

The fact is the Philippines is producing a lot of waste, hazardous and otherwise every single day, and there are not enough disposal sites. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2082086/ph-making-more-hazardous-waste-govt-cant-build-enough-disposal-sites

Hazardous garbage produced in the Philippines in 2024 grew faster than the waste management system meant to handle it, making it more urgent for the government to invest more in necessary infrastructure.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed the country generated 269,552 tons of hazardous waste (garbage that is harmful to health or the environment), like oil and toxic chemicals, last year, up by 13 percent year-on-year.

Though one of the lowest volumes recorded based on data dating back to 2015, hazardous waste still piled up faster than the government could build disposal facilities. The number of material recovery facilities nationwide was at 12,855 in 2024, representing an 8.7-percent increase from the preceding year’s 11,823.

State statisticians reported that the number of sanitary landfills went up to 343, up by 14.7 percent year-on-year. But the number of reported illegal dumps also increased at a much faster rate of 84 percent, reaching 79 compared to 43 in 2023.

By region, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) generated 114,988 tons of hazardous waste in 2024, accounting for 43 percent of the total volume.

“The increasing volume of overall waste—whether hazardous or not—is the product of a linear take-make-waste system and businesses’ continued dependence on single-use products and use of hazardous chemicals in products and services,” said Marian Ledesma, Greenpeace Philippines campaigner. In a take-make-waste system, products are designed for disposal, not durability or reuse.

Among the types of hazardous waste, oil was the largest at 89,752 tons, or 33.3 percent of the total generated hazardous trash in the country.

Next was miscellaneous waste at 51,765 tons, or a 19.2 percent share. Waste with inorganic chemicals stood at 39,438 tons or 14.6 percent.

Ledesma said there were ways to reduce the volume of waste, such as phasing out single-use plastics and other common disposable products, banning commercial use of harmful chemical groups in products, regulating hazardous chemicals and strictly enforcing segregation at source.

“The latter is especially crucial to reduce organic waste from going to landfills and to avoid hazardous and organic waste from contaminating other types of waste. Phaseouts or bans of single-use products and packaging, on the other hand, can prevent waste generation altogether,” she added.

Managing the waste problem is a huge challenge for the Philippines. This year there have been three deadly landfill slides in Cebu, Rizal, and Davao. There is not enough space for all the waste which has prompted some officials to advocate for waste to energy plants which have their own problems namely air pollution. As it stands the average Philippine citizen and tourist is surrounded by hazardous waste. 

Philippine Company Tosses Sacks Of Trash Into The River

In the Philippines litter is a huge problem. This includes illegal dumping. In Iloilo City a company was recently revealed to have been dumping huge sacks of garbage into the Jaro River. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1277583

A business firm operating a beverage depot in this highly urbanized city is facing the risk of losing its permit to operate while facing cases for violation of environmental laws for dumping expired commodities into the Jaro River.

General Services Office head Neil Ravena said they met the owner of the establishment for a technical conference on Thursday and found some inconsistencies in his statement.

The conference was joined by the Business Process Licensing Office, City Environment and Natural Resources Office, representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the barangay captains of Banuyao and Ticud, where the expired commodities were recovered.

“This is with regard to the disposal of expired commodities to the Jaro River. This is to verify reports and also for the respondent to explain why they are disposing their expired commodities in the Jaro River,” Ravena said in an interview.

The expired commodities were placed inside sacks and dumped into the Jaro River. These were recovered sometime in the second week of this month during the ongoing cleanup activities.

“The reason why we were able to trace him was because of the identical sacks left at his depot,” he said.

The firm owner, according to Ravena, explained that they are trying to repackage the expired drinks for return to the distributor of the bottling company.

These were reportedly placed outside their depot, but were picked up by trisikad (pedicab) and tricycle drivers and disposed without the knowledge of the firm owner.

Ravena said they were able to recover only portions of the 67 sacks that were disposed at the river.

The owner also admitted that they still have 500 sacks left, which they are attempting to return to the bottling company.

Cases for violation of Republic Act 9003, or the Solid Waste Management Act, and the Clean Water Act are expected to be filed next week once the minutes of the technical conference are available.

He will also recommend to Mayor Raisa Trenas the revocation of the establishment’s permit to operate.

This company was banking on nobody actually cleaning the river! But their hopes were dashed when the local government decided to do clean up activities and found these intact sacks which led them to the company. 

Only portions of 67 sacks were recovered while the company says they have 500 sacks waiting to be dumped! Well, waiting to be returned to a bottling company. They say the sacks were picked up without their knowledge but how true is that? If it turns out this company knowingly and willingly dumped those sacks into the river they should face the full force of the law. 

Of course this is the Philippines so it's likely not going to happen!

Mt. Banahaw Has No Trash Bins Apparently

In the Philippines littering is quite the challenge. However it is not merely a personal issue but also a whole-of-scoiety one. Take the "recurring trash woes" at Mt. Banahaw for example. Tourists go for a visit and leave garbage behind. Read this article carefully and see if you can find the real problem. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2207861/recurring-trash-woes-at-mt-banahaw-slammed

Environmental group Tanggol Kalikasan (TK) expressed dismay over reports that pilgrims and tourists left piles of garbage at the foot of Mt. Banahaw during Holy Week despite repeated reminders from authorities to keep the area clean.

“It is a repeated cycle. Rehashed yearly reminders and appeals from the government and concerned sectors are clearly not working,” TK project officer Jay Lim said in a phone interview Monday.

On Easter Sunday, the Protected Area Management Office of the Mts. Banahaw–San Cristobal Protected Landscape reported collecting 42 sacks of assorted garbage in Barangay Kinabuhayan, Dolores, Quezon, a key gateway to the mountain.

At the start of the Lenten season, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had urged visitors to strictly follow environmental rules, including bringing their own trash bags and taking their waste with them upon leaving.

For many devotees and nature lovers, Mt. Banahaw remains a spiritual sanctuary, known for its mysticism and sense of peace.

“Another Holy Week has passed, and once again, Mt. Banahaw—our sacred mountain—is gasping under the weight of garbage left behind by pilgrims and tourists,” Lim lamented.

He noted that repeated reminders without strict enforcement have proven ineffective, citing the growing volume of trash each year as evidence of a failing system.

“It is time to move beyond simply cleaning up after the damage has been done,” Lim said.

Lim called for “systemic enforcement,” proposing measures such as a “cash-for-trash” deposit scheme, where visitors would recover their deposit only upon presenting their waste at exit points.

He also suggested mandatory bag inspections at entry points, a ban on single-use plastics, and the deployment of marshals at popular “puestos” or sacred sites to issue on-the-spot fines for littering.

“Let the penalty hurt the pocket, since reminders and appeals don’t seem to reach the heart,” he said.

Among other proposals were a “blacklisting” system for violators, barring repeat offenders from entering the protected area for five to 10 years, and limiting visitor numbers through a preregistration system if crowds become unmanageable.

In 2004, the DENR closed the inner sanctuaries of Mt. Banahaw to allow the area to recover from years of environmental degradation. The mountain’s peaks remain off-limits to the public.

Did you catch it? Apparently Mt. Banahaw does not provide public trash bins. Instead tourists are expected to bring their own trash bags! And where are they to place those bags when they are filled? Are they supposed to take them home? Are they supposed to leave them somewhere on site? 

The fact is one cannot operate a heavily visited tourist site without providing proper sanitation facilities even if it is a remote location. There must be toilets and there must be bins or the waste problem will only become compounded. It is simply ridiculous to ask the public to pay an entrance fee and then not provide trash bins.

This problem of littering is not limited to Mt. Banahaw. It is a national problem which raises its head the most during popular celebrations and festivals. A major solution to the garbage woes facing the Philippines is to provide easily accessible sanitation facilities.

Garbage Collection in the Philippines is Awful

 I hate the Philippines' garbage collection system. 

These guys do not come at the same time on the same day every week. Instead they come whenever they feel like it. That means one cannot put out their garbage to ensure collection in a timely manner. Sure they might come Tuesday afternoon but then again they might not come until Friday evening. If you put out the trash and they do not come you run the risk of stray dogs tearing through the bags and creating a huge mess. 

Because they do not come at the same time and on the same day the truck has to blast loud music and blow its horn to alert the neighborhood of their presence. But sometimes they don't even do that. Instead you could be taking a nap only to find out the garbage truck has come and gone and you are stuck with a week's worth of trash sitting in your garage. Thanks, guys. Hopefully they collect it next week. 

The problem is Filipinos do not value order. They do not value timeliness. They do not value safety. They do not embrace the values that makes society progressive and prosperous. This is not an issue that is silly for one to get angry about. The fact that garbage collection does not follow an orderly schedule is just one more proof of what a dysfunctional country the Philippines truly is. 

Banning Illegal Activities

I've said it before, the Philippines is a nation with laws but not a nation where the rule of law prevails. People do what they want because the laws are selectively enforced. Here is another example. 

https://mb.com.ph/2025/4/29/mayor-wes-bans-illegal-trash-dumping-near-valenzuela-bridge

Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian has banned the dumping of garbage near the Gen. T. De Leon-Ugong Bridge, the city government announced on Tuesday, April 29.

According to the Public Information Office (PIO), Gatchalian personally inspected a private lot in the area on Monday, April 28, and discovered the improper disposal of waste.

Following the inspection, the mayor directed the Waste Management Office (WMO) to promptly remove the garbage and tasked the Engineering Office to install a high barrier at the site to prevent further dumping activities.

"This is a serious concern not only for the environment but also for public health," Gatchalian said.

"We are committed to maintaining cleanliness and order across Valenzuela,” he added.

He also reminded residents to strictly follow waste disposal regulations, particularly placing household waste outside only on designated collection days.

The mayor emphasized that these practices are mandated under City Ordinance No. 525, Series of 2018, or the Environment Code of Valenzuela City, and City Ordinance No. 557, Series of 2019, or the Health and Sanitation Code of Valenzuela City.

He urged residents to report any illegal dumping activities to help keep the city clean and safe.

Imagine banning an activity that is already illegal and thus, BANNED! It's ridiculous but that is the Philippines. If the law had been strictly enforced, such as monitoring this known dumpsite and apprehending illegal dumpers, there would be no problem. But as it is the Mayor has to ban an already illegal activity. 

Philippines' Public Markets Are Disgusting

Way back in 2019 President Duterte ordered all LGUs to clear roads and sidewalks of all obsutrctions. One of the local markets took this order too literally and removed a very necessary trash container which meant vendors were tossing garbage on the road for a number of months. 

Later the containers were restored but that has not stopped vendors from tossing garbage on the street. This is the view of the backside of the public market as of March 3rd, 2025. 

At least the garbage is segregated into separate piles? As if that makes it better. This area is filthy and disgusting and there is no reason for garbage to be left in huge piles on the street. Especially at a public market which needs to be kept as clean as possible to prevent rodents and bugs who will create unsanitary conditions and possibly spread disease via the food being sold. 

But if public markets are not infested with rodents the city won't be able to host "Rat Catching Challenges." Where's the fun in that?

There is really nothing to do but watch in despair. Here is the video.

New Year's Garbage

The New Year brought with it a whole lot of garbage. In Cagayan de Oro there were piles of uncollected garbage left at the public markets. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1240854

Waste management in this city is the top priority after the New Year celebration, following reports of piles of uncollected trash in public markets.

In a radio interview on Wednesday, Allan Villalba, chief of the City Public Service Office, said the local government's third-party contractor for garbage collection has deployed workers in major public markets and streets to immediately collect the piles of garbage on the first morning of 2025.

"There's more garbage this year because more vendors were selling in the sidewalks than before," he said.

Villalba said two city government departments are already working to speed up garbage collection and street cleaning.

In major public markets, garbage has started accumulating on the sidewalks several hours before the New Year celebration.

Garbage collection in the city is observing a scheduled rotation of trucks by the third-party contractor under the management of Tencil company.

More sidewalk vendors means more people able to sell their products and make a living. It also means more garbage. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1240915

More than 75,000 kg. of waste were collected in this city a day after the New Year celebration.

In a radio interview on Thursday, Jermie Danuco, operations manager of Tencil, a third-party waste collector firm, said the estimated weight of collection came from five public markets in the city but the volume was lower this year than last year.

"Based on the previous action plan, the volume this year was lessened because as early as Dec. 24 (2024), we deployed trucks to collect the garbage in public markets," she said.

The city government awarded Tencil, a private company, to collect and manage waste disposals.

The City Economic Enterprises Department and the City Engineering Office have also been responding to keep the city streets free of garbage.

In another interview, Armen Cuenca, chief of the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office, suggested limiting the number of vendors selling on the sidewalks to reduce garbage piling during the holiday season.

He said the vendors had been reminded earlier about the importance of waste segregation and keeping it tidy and ready for collection. However, despite these warnings, some still chose not to follow the rules.

75,000 kg of trash were collected mostly from the city's five public markets. The amount of garbage appears to be due to the number of sidewalk vendors which is why chief of the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office has "suggested limiting the number of vendors selling on the sidewalks to reduce garbage piling during the holiday season." How did they not see this coming?

While the amount of garbage collected in CDO was lower than last year the amount of holiday waste in Iloilo City surged by 20%.

 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1240909

The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) reported a 10 percent to 20 percent increase in garbage volume during the holiday season, driven largely by unsold fruits and packaging materials.

CENRO head Neil Ravena said most of the waste were rotten or overripe fruits, particularly those used for the traditional New Year displays, such as the 13 round fruits.

“On the other hand, we collected lesser firecracker debris this year. Maybe it was due to the campaign of the Department of Health and the Philippine National Police against the use of firecrackers,” Ravena said in an interview Thursday.

During the peak holiday period from Dec. 24 to Jan. 1, waste collection reached 480 tons daily, up from the usual 400 tons.

About 60 percent of the waste comprised biodegradables, 20 percent were packaging materials such as cartons and styrofoam, and 10 percent were firecracker remnants.

To manage the increase, the city deployed three additional garbage trucks alongside those of a private contractor, focusing on high-traffic areas, such as the terminal market, JM Basa, Iznart, and Delgado streets. By the morning of Jan. 1, major thoroughfares were clean.

Ravena urged residents to dispose of garbage responsibly at designated points and reduce reliance on plastic trays and styrofoam to minimize landfill waste.

The 13 round fruits made up the bulk of the trash. What are the 13 round fruits? 

Eating round fruits on New Year’s Eve is a beloved tradition in many cultures, believed to bring good fortune and prosperity in the coming year. The round shape of these fruits symbolizes unity, completeness, and the cyclical nature of time. In many Spanish-speaking countries, it’s customary to eat 12 round fruits at midnight, one for each stroke of the clock as it strikes midnight. This practice is thought to bring good luck and prosperity in the new year.

In the Philippines, the tradition of eating 12 round fruits is a cherished family custom passed down through generations. The fruits typically include apples, grapes, oranges, watermelon, pomelo, pineapple, pears, golden melon, guava, kiwi, rambutan, chico, and lemons. The round shape of these fruits is believed to symbolize unity and completeness, and eating them is thought to bring good fortune and blessings to the family.

The sweetness of the fruits is also believed to attract positive energy and remove negative energy from the previous year. In some cultures, it’s customary to eat sweet fruits like grapes and pineapple to invite good luck. This tradition is often combined with other auspicious foods to create a bountiful and prosperous New Year’s celebration.

https://blog.atlastravelweb.com/special-interests/festivals-2/lucky-fruits-for-new-years/

Is it 12 or 13? Doesn't matter. Eating these fruits are supposed to be for good luck. Yet the bulk of the garbage was rotten lucky fruit. Go figure. 

In Manila the holiday trash piled up real quick because the contracted garbage collector decided to stop collecting garbage. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1241044

The city government of Manila vowed on Saturday to hold its former garbage collector accountable for failing to perform its duties during the holiday season.

Mayor Honey Lacuna, in a statement, slammed Leonel Waste Management Corporation for abandoning garbage collection responsibilities amidst a 400-percent surge in waste volume during Christmas and New Year celebrations.

“Rest assured, I will not let this sabotage pass and those responsible will be held accountable,” Lacuna said.

She said two firms, MetroWaste and PhilEco Systems Corporation, are currently trying to clear Manila’s streets of garbage 24/7.

The mayor assured residents that those responsible for the lapse would face accountability.

"We will address the negligence of the previous garbage collector. Now, we have two contractors, MetroWaste and PhilEco, ensuring that the city is cleaned efficiently," she added.

Lacuna also encouraged residents to report uncollected garbage to the city’s Department of Public Services and Task Force Against Road Obstruction.

Lacuna said PhilEco Systems Corporation and MetroWaste have expedited the collection of garbage that piled up after the revelries as she assured the city government’s continued commitment to ensuring efficient garbage collection across all districts.

Leonel Waste Management Corporation says they did not abandon their duties. Rather, they claim the City of Manila owes them 561,440,000 pesos and they gave a notice in September 2024 they would not be doing trash duty after December 31st

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2021925/manila-ex-waste-contractor-denies-abandoning-duty-cites-payment-issues

The previous waste management contractor in the City of Manila has disputed allegations that it abandoned its duty to collect trash, maintaining that it informed the local government that it would no longer serve the city once the contract ended on December 31.

In a statement on Monday, Leonel Waste Management Corporation (Leonel) clarified that they met with Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna in September 2024 to tell her that they will not participate in the new contract bidding for the city’s trash collector, as the local government has failed to pay them for months.

“We are deeply concerned that news is circulating that we abandoned our duty with the City of Manila before our contract ended on December 31, 2024. We strongly refute this accusation, which grossly undermines the hard work and efforts of all our garbage collectors, who we thank deeply for their outstanding service,” Leonel said.

“Last September 2024, we met with Mayor Lacuna informing her that we will not participate in the 2025 bidding because of the City’s mounting unpaid obligations to Leonel, in order to give the City enough time to prepare and ensure a smooth transition to the new service provider,” it added.

According to the company, it instructed employees to continue working during the holiday season until the end of the contract period on December 31, even though Manila’s unpaid obligations had risen to P561.4 million.

“In fact, last December 23, 2024, when we announced to our employees that our contract of service is ending on December 31, 2024, we mandated them to continue doing our usual services until the end of our contract, especially in anticipation of the usual surge of garbage brought about by the holiday season,” Leonel said.

“Our company, Leonel, has always put our clients first and has never, nor will ever, abandon our duty of garbage collection. We have faithfully served our contract until December 31, 2024, despite the City of Manila’s total debt to our company amounting to PhP561,440,000,” it added.

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna denies such a massive debt is owed. Either way these are just a highlights of the Holiday Waste problem which troubles the Philippines every year. 

Mandaue City Garbage Crisis: A Study in Incompetence

Recently Mandaue City recalled two garbage trucks from Barangay Guizo because the barangay failed to collect garbage in a timely manner and dispose of it properly. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/mandaue-city-to-recall-2-garbage-trucks-from-guizo

FOR allegedly failing to properly manage waste within its jurisdiction, Barangay Guizo will lose its two garbage trucks owned by the Mandaue City Government. 

This was confirmed by Guizo Barangay Captain Jesus Neri Sr. in an interview with SunStar Cebu on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. 

Barangay Guizo reportedly violated the city ordinance on proper waste management as it continue to dispose of mixed waste in unauthorized areas. 

The City Government ordered the recall of the garbage on Thursday, Sept. 5, heeding the recommendations from the Mandaue Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro). 

Neri, however, requested the City to recall the garbage trucks on Tuesday, Sept. 10. 

The City, he said, will assume the garbage collection in Guizo as the barangay-owned truck is not functional. 

Multiple citations have been issued to Barangay Guizo. The most recent violation, recorded on April 3, 2024, showed the barangay’s failure to comply with the city ordinance that mandates that waste be disposed of only in designated facilities.

Despite a P5,000 fine being imposed, the penalty remains unsettled, prompting City officials to issue a first and final notice demanding immediate payment.

According to Cenro, Barangay Guizo has been subjected to multiple citations since March 21, 2019, for its repeated waste management violations. 

Cease and desist orders were issued on Jan. 12, 2024, and Jan. 4, 2024, directing the barangay to halt improper waste disposal methods.

The village chief said that waste management is a challenge in Guizo, as they are using only one garbage truck because the other truck is under repair. 

Two important things here need to be noted. The first is that the Barangay Captain, Jesus Neri Sr., requested that the city recall the trucks. Despite his admission that this happened at his request he is calling this act "political harassment" on the part of Mandaue City. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/11/village-officials-in-mandaue-city-cry-foul-over-recall-of-garbage-trucks-collectors

Officials of a barangay in Mandaue City, Cebu have cried foul over the recall of city-owned motor vehicles and city-paid job order employees for garbage disposal services.

Barangay Guizo Captain Jesus Neri Jr. said the move of the city government, through city administrator James Calipayan, recalling the barangay’s two drivers and one garbage collector has severely affected its garbage collection.

“We only have one garbage truck and it cannot be avoided that there are times that it breaks down, that's why garbage is not collected timely,” Neri told reporters on Wednesday, September 11.

The vehicles and the workers were recalled by the city government on September 3.

With a population of more than 10,000 people with three major hospitals, hospitals, and a mall, Guizo needs to have adequate personnel and a working garbage truck to prevent uncollected garbage from piling up.

“Before Guizo had only 44.3 hectares but it has expanded to more than 80 hectares now,” said Neri.

Neri added that their workers tasked to collect garbage have complained of delayed salaries.

During the press briefing, Neri showed uncollected garbage that had piled up beside the barangay hall.

“We have a weekly clean up drive, we tried to ask assistance from the city but we were just told their garbage trucks are defective. So what can we do?” said Neri.

Neri described  the recent move by the city government as political harassment.

“It is clear that what they did was political harassment,” said Neri, an ally of Mandaue Rep. Emmarie “Lollipop” Ouano.

Ouano is rumored to be running against Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes, who is currently serving a one-year suspension.

Neri said he has been bashed on social media for the uncollected garbage in the barangay.

“I have been repeatedly ridiculed on social media. I was accused of being remiss in my job. It was in 1997 when I first became a barangay captain here. I wouldn’t last this long if I was not doing my job well. It is not easy to manage a barangay,” said Neri.

Neri appealed to the city government, now headed by acting Mayor Glen Bercede, to reinstate the recalled job-order employees.

He also asked the city to fulfill its promise of helping the barangay in its garbage collection.

If Neri requested the trucks be recalled how is this an act of political harassment? Neri also claims he asked the city to assist with garbage collection but he was told their garbage trucks are defective meaning they cannot offer any help. That is in contradiction to his previous statement Mandaue City will assume garbage collection. How will they do that if their trucks are defective? These statements are contradictory.

The second important thing to note is Barangay Guizo has two garbage trucks but only one is in operation. But who owns these trucks? The Barangay or the City? It would seem the City since they recalled the trucks. Why not simply repair the trucks if that is the problem?

Another issue affecting this situation and indicating the City owns the trucks is job order employees claiming their pay has been withheld for several months. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/594924/mandaue-some-guizo-job-order-workers-say-their-salaries-delayed

Some city paid job order employees in Barangay Guizo have complained about the delay of their salaries.

Antonio Abellanosa, a garbage truck driver and Arjay Serafin, a garbage collector said that usually they could not receive their P4,000 monthly honorarium on time.

(There are days that these will be delayed, there are times two months. Those two months it will not be given in full [they will give that] in two months, they will skip a month and so.]

(It will reach 2 months, it could have been better if the salary is given in full, only one month’s worth of salary will be given. The second pay will be given every two months. And it will be again delayed.)

Abellanosa and Serafin were appointed by the city as job order employees and paid on honorarium basis at P435 daily under the Tourism Department and Promotion Program of the Barangay pursuant to Sangguniang Panlungsod Ordinance no. 16-2023-1837. 

Guizo Barangay Captain Neri said that since February 2023, Lawyer Jamaal James Calipayan designated the first first barangay councilor as the signatory of the Daily Time Record of the city government paid Job Order and Clean and Green Personnel assigned in the barangay instead of him.

Calipayan said that they authorized Arnulfo Capacite because the city trusted him but the supervision and control would still be in the Barangay Captain. 

Capacite is an ally of suspended Mayor Jonas Cortes while Neri is an ally of Congresswoman Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon.

For his part, Capacite denied the two months delay of the honorarium. 

If there would be a delay, the longest time would be two weeks, he said.

He said that he would immediately sign after they would fill up their DTR. 

Calipayan also denied the allegation of Neri that politics was behind the recall of the truck.

Calipayan said that Neri was given enough time to improve their garbage collection system. 

He added that the environmental citation was issued to the barangay since 2018 from a previous administration.

Neri said that they had been trying their best to collect garbage in the barangay. 

He planned to ask for a garbage truck to Mandaue Rep. Ouano-Dizon.

And here is where the alleged political harassment comes in.  Mandaue City Administrator Jamaal James Calipayan does not trust Barangay Captain Neri and they are allied with differing politicians. It is, allegedly, a case of partisan politics. That is, of course, if one ignores the fact Barangay Guizo has been cited for faulty garbage collection since 2018 and Neri has been given plenty of time to improve garbage collection. 

Neri says he has been Barangay Captain since 1997 which is 27 years. That is quite a long time for any one man to hold onto power. He says he would not last so long if he had not been doing his job. However, the garbage woes of Barangay Guizo date back at least 10 years if not more. In 2014 it was reported trash was piling up in Barangay Guizo.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/46181/garbage-left-piling-up-near-guizo-barangay-hall

More than 50 sacks of uncollected garbage awaits motorists and visitors passing through A.S. Fortuna Extension in barangay Guizo, Mandaue City.

The bulk of the garbage, mostly plastic items, are found within walking distance from the Guizo barangay hall.

Guizo barangay chairman Jesus Neri Jr. said they don’t have garbage trucks to collect the trash from these areas.

To reduce the smell, residents covered the garbage with a tarpaulin.

“We’ve called Mandaue City to also collect our garbage but sometimes no one arrives,” Neri said.

“There were times that we told the residents to bring out their garbage, but when no one comes we have no choice but to leave that there,” he said.

Engr. Ricardo Mendoza, chief of Mandaue City Hall’s Solid Waste Management Board, said the garbage trucks run on fixed schedules to collect trash from the city’s 27 barangays.

He said it is each barangay’s responsibility to collect the garbage of their constituents.

In a meeting with some of the barangays, Mendoza said garbage trucks usually prioritize the collection of garbage from commercial firms.

“Instead of the households, they first collect garbage from the companies. Since they have recyclables, they’ll bring these to the junkshops and not to the landfill. It takes them so long to back for the household,” Mendoza said.

“We told the drivers to collect in the afternoon for companies and prioritize the households,” he said.

Mendoza said they tag every household who turn over their garbage to collectors in order to distinguish them from the residents who dump garbage anywhere.

Ten years ago Neri claimed the Barangay had no trucks to collect garbage. It's not certain if that means they had two trucks but both were in the shop for repairs. If the City owns the trucks and they are loaned to each barangay that would place the problem squarely in the lap of Mandaue City. 

Clearly there are a lot of issues going on in this situation. Garbage needs to be collected and it is the Barangay's duty to make sure that happens. Not only is Barangay Captain Neri doing a poor job at ensuring the garbage is collected but he is also divided from the City administration due to having different political allies. What's needed at the very least is better communication between the City and the Barangay. Yet Neri had ten years and more to fix the situation and it has only deteriorated. And who suffers? The people.