The local government has established a 24-hour Task Force Basura to address uncollected waste amid public concerns. Mayor Rolando Uy led the briefing on Monday evening to oversee operations with the new contractor, Standard System, which began collections in late September.
Uy explained the urgency, saying, “This is in relation to the two-week ultimatum that we imposed in the collection of the remaining garbage.” The task force will collect trash along main roads starting at 10 p.m., deploying trucks and compactors for Districts 1 and 2, plus 10 additional trucks at the sanitary landfill to clear backlogs.
The backlog stems from issues since December 2024, with the city generating about 5.8 kilograms of waste per person daily, or roughly 45,000 cubic meters monthly. The previous contractor handled only 37,000 cubic meters, leaving an 8,000 cubic meter gap, according to former City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Armen Cuenca.
Second District Councilor Edgar Cabanlas has proposed an ordinance imposing stricter penalties, including fines and at least three months imprisonment, for those not following scheduled garbage collection. The task force aims to resolve the ongoing waste management issues effectively.