The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shared an infographic showing the average daily waste of cities in Metro Manila in 2018 as part of its campaign to rehabilitate Manila Bay.
Data on the infographic came from the Ecological Solid Waste Management-NCR section of the DENR and shows a total of 9,283,889 kilograms of waste produced per day.
SAAN BA GALING ANG BASURA SA MANILA BAY?Ayon sa National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC), ang Metro Manila…
Posted by DENR National Capital Region on Tuesday, February 26, 2019
“Kung kaya, kung nais nating mapagtagumpayan ang ‘Battle for Manila Bay,’ simulan natin ang laban sa ating mga kabahayan. Bawasan ang basurang likha, mag-segregate at itapon ng maayos ang ating mga basura at huwag nang paabutin pa sa Manila Bay,” part of its caption read.
The top five cities with most waste in Metro Manila are:
- Quezon City: 3,151,961 kilograms per day
- Manila: 1,174,821 kg per day
- Caloocan City: 912,812 kg per day
- Parañaque City: 579,555 kg per day
- Makati City: 513,108 kg per day
Citing data in 2011, the DENR stated that Metro Manila is the main producer of garbage in the country and 25 percent of it came from residents.
A 2017 report from the Senate Economic Planning Office or SEPO report also states that only 85 percent of the wastes in the capital are collected.
DENR perceived that the remaining 15 percent or 9,212 tons of garbage could have ended up in creeks, canals and eventually to Manila Bay.
“Hindi mahirap isipin na ang mga ito ay napupunta sa mga kanal, estero, ilog at, sa huli, sa Manila Bay,” it said.
Solid waste management has been a growing problem in the Philippines, particularly in big urban areas such as Metro Manila, despite having several environmental laws to address it.
In 2001, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act was enacted to adopt a comprehensive solid waste management program. It also established the National Solid Waste Management Commission, which is tasked to oversee the implementation of the legislation.
“More than 15 years after the passage of RA 9003, enforcement and compliance with the law remains a daunting task due to technical, political and financial limitations of concerned agencies and LGUs,” the SEPO report stated.
Manila Bay cleanup and its issues
Last January, volunteers and different government agencies participated in a massive clean-up initiative to fulfill the more than 10-year-old Supreme Court order of rehabilitating Manila Bay.
It was back in 1999 when citizens of Manila accused local authorities of negligence in keeping the bay pollution-free.
The High Court ruled in their favor in 2008 and gave the agencies ten years to revive Manila Bay into Class B-level meaning fit for swimming and other forms of recreation.
While such move yielded remarkable results, concerned lawmakers alleged that it was just a cover-up for the upcoming 43 reclamation projects covering more than 32,000 hectares of the bay.
