DENR offers help to Manila amid its 400-percent increase in garbage volume
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Monday said it “stands ready to provide technical assistance” to local governments on proper waste disposal after the City of Manila recorded a 400-percent increase in garbage volume during the holidays.
In a statement, the DENR said it “would like to reemphasize the vital importance of effective waste management in safeguarding public health and protecting our environment on the part of the local government units.”
The response came after Mayor Honey Lacuna said on Sunday that Manila recorded a 400 percent increase in garbage volume during the recent Christmas and New Year celebrations. She blamed the city’s former garbage collector for the uncollected garbage after the latter allegedly abandoned its duties.
Citing reports from barangays, Lacuna said that the previous garbage collector, Leonel Waste Management Corp. (Leonel), abandoned its duties on Dec. 30, when it was contracted to collect waste until Dec. 31 last year.
The local government of Manila has since contracted two new garbage collectors, which will be working 24/7 in order to collect all the garbage by Jan. 10. Lacuna also vowed to hold its previous trash collector accountable for the accumulation of garbage.
“You can be sure that I will not let this pass and all those who are involved will be punished. Just as I said earlier, the negligence of the previous garbage collector will be addressed, that’s why we currently have two collectors in the city: MetroWaste and PhilEco,” the mayor said.
The DENR reminded local government units (LGUs) that they are mandated to “develop, implement and enforce their respective solid waste management plans approved by the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC).”
“The NSWMC, the body tasked with ensuring compliance with RA 9003, will take appropriate action to ensure the implementation of the law. This may include investigation and recommendation of appropriate administrative or criminal cases,” the agency said.
In a statement on Monday, Leonel, however, refuted Lacuna’s claims and said that it did not abandon its duties as the city’s garbage collector.
“Our fulfillment of our obligations is well-documented with timestamped photos and barangay certifications signed by their representatives,” Leonel said in its response.
The company also claimed that the City of Manila had over P561 million in unpaid obligations, which was why it chose not to join this year’s bidding process for the city’s new trash collectors.
Lacuna denied Leonel’s claims. She said that the local government had already paid Leonel for its services in the first quarter of 2024 and will be paying an additional P131 million to cover its services during May and June.
“This cannot be called ‘debt’ because it is not ‘due and demandable’ just like what was written in the contract we both signed,” said Lacuna.
