KEEN advocates of garbage recycling are wont to say that there’s money in garbage.
While the message of environmentalists is that finding second and third uses for discarded items will bring you money, local officials see the mountains of trash generated by local residents as millions of pesos in official city or town expenses that will generate thousands of pesos in commissions from haulers and contractors.
Thus, one otherwise positive and benign slogan as “there’s money in garbage” can take on two different meanings.
One very visible measure if a mayor is doing his/her job well is the efficiency of solid and liquid wastes management in the municipality or city, an important component of the overall environmental status of the locality.
Manila, which is supposed to be the country’s prime city being its capital, has lately suffered a great setback in its reputation here and abroad because of the hills of garbage that remained uncollected for days. Photos and videos of this sorry state point to the fact that City Hall, headed by Mayor Honey Lacuna, has been remiss in its responsibilities along these lines.
‘The sheer amount of this contract, which necessarily attracted more official fingers to the pie, must be one of the reasons for the delay.’
Many city residents have expressed frustration about the local government’s garbage collection problems, as piles of trash were seen along the streets after the New Year celebrations. The problem was most felt in Paco, San Andres, Malate, Quiapo, Sta. Cruz, Pandacan and Tondo. Many netizens also posted photos of garbage piling up along San Marcelino St., and along Peñalosa and Juan Luna Streets in Tondo.
Mayor Lacuna lamely offered the explanation that they were “sabotaged” — whatever that means. The mayor referred to a supposed plan to create confusion within the city’s waste management system.
She said: “Starting this December 30, we have initiated the dry run of our new contractors in collecting and disposing of garbage: the MetroWaste Solid Waste Management Corporation and the Phil. Ecology Systems Corporation.”
“It is not a secret to us that people are taking steps to create disarray within this system. We know them, some operate on the sidelines, while others are like vampires who can walk even in daylight. But my directive is clear: We will have zero tolerance for whatever kind of sabotage, whether this is coming from inside or out,” she added.
Residents took to social media to lecture the mayor: “If the previous garbage collector’s contract has ended, it’s your responsibility to be prepared — instead of merely saying that you were sabotaged.”
We understand that the end of the Christmas season coinciding with the end of the year is a time for renewing service contracts such as garbage collection. The City Council led by the vice mayor and Lacuna herself know this and should have prepared to ensure that this very vital public service of trash collection and disposal is not compromised.
It was reported that city officials were caught by surprise during the yuletide season as garbage in Manila rose by 400 percent.
The start of year 2025 saw the city transitioning from one contractor to another to do the job. The city’s solid waste service contract is worth P842.7 million for 2025. The sheer amount of this contract, which necessarily attracted more official fingers to the pie, must be one of the reasons for the delay.
The people of Manila are waiting for the fair delivery of garbage collection services which they already paid for when they remitted their taxes.
