On Monday, Manila’s Mayor Francisco Domagoso returned to his post, confronted by a severe garbage crisis after waste collection companies ceased operations due to unpaid bills. This alarming situation has led to a substantial accumulation of waste across the city, impacting roads and public health.
The scene in various parts of Manila has been dire, with heaps of rubbish spilling onto roads, making them impassable and emitting noxious odors that have blanketed the city. Seaside areas and busy commercial streets are particularly affected, where discarded trash mixes with flooding from heavy monsoon rains.
In response to this growing health hazard, Mayor Domagoso, known for his background as a former actor and garbage collector, addressed the public via livestream, pleading with residents to store their trash indoors until collection resumes. The urgency of the situation prompted him to declare a state of emergency soon after.
Mayor Domagoso pointed fingers at the prior administration led by Honey Lacuna for the financial debacle, blaming it for the city’s debt to waste management companies. This controversial financial situation has culminated in a day-to-day struggle for effective garbage disposal, making the streets of Manila not only visually unpleasant but also a looming health crisis for its residents.
