Manileños feel the difference as garbage collected from city’s roads

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Manileños feel the difference as garbage collected from city’s roads

Jessie Cruzat,

ABS-CBN News

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Bulldozers are used to collect garbage along Dagupan Street in Tondo, Manila on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN NewsBulldozers are used to collect garbage along Dagupan Street in Tondo, Manila on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Residents of Manila are beginning to feel the effects of intensified garbage collection efforts across the city following the directive of returning Mayor Isko Moreno to clear the streets of uncollected waste.

Moreno has since promised to restore cleanliness in the city while introducing long-term development plans.

As early as Tuesday morning, trucks from Leonel Waste Management began clearing heaps of garbage from Manila's main roads.

The clean-up paired with flushing operations was personally ordered by Moreno, who also made rounds in Divisoria for inspection.

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“There is about 1 day worth of collection was collected yesterday by Leonel—about 2,500 metric tons. Eh, maraming salamat naman, tutuloy today,” said Moreno.

Local residents and workers in the area have observed the improvements.

“Dati ang basura namin, tumpok-tumpok. Talagang lagpas tao,” said Barangay 29 Kagawad Wilma Aloba of Tondo. “’Yong mga tao nagrereklamo na sa aming mga kagawad, chairman. Tumatawag naman po kami sa basura, wala pong dumarating.”

Parking attendant Jerry Gilles also noted a stricter enforcement.

“Pag may nakita ho silang nagtatapon ng basura, pinapauwi na po. ‘Yong mga nagtitinda dito, pinaalis na ng pulis kasi baka magkalat sila eh,” Gilles said.

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Despite the garbage collection efforts, some areas like Delpan in Tondo still grapple with garbage.

Residents like Allan Amor are concerned for their family’s health.

“Kaso wala po kaming malilipatan para sabihin na maging safe. Sa awa ng Diyos, okay naman po. Malusog naman ang mga bata,” he said.

In his inaugural speech, Moreno pointed to the city government's unpaid debts as a major reason for the garbage pile-up.

“Kaya tayo iniwan ng Leonel, hindi nyo binayaran ng walong buwan. Sino mang negosyante, maliit man o malaki, hindi mo bayaran ng walong buwan, titigil ‘yon kahit gusto niyang maghanap-buhay,” he said during a recent speech.

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According to Moreno, only the January dues were settled by the Manila LGU.

Both garbage collector contractors voluntarily pulled out on his first day in office.

Earlier in January, garbage collection was also delayed, which then-Mayor Honey Lacuna attributed to the expiration of the city’s contract with Leonel Waste Management.

Lacuna previously denied claims that the city owed the contractor nearly half a billion pesos.

ABS-CBN has tried to get her side on the current situation but Lacuna has yet to respond.

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Moreno, however, pledged to restore Manila to its former cleanliness and vibrancy.

“May gobyerno sa madaling araw, may gobyerno sa gabi, may gobyerno sa hapon, may gobyerno kahit holiday sa lungsod ng Maynila,” he emphasized.

To institutionalize regular clean-ups, Moreno signed Executive Order No. 3, designating every Saturday as a citywide clean-up and declogging day.

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