By Christine Cudis/ PNA
MANILA — Some 9,212 tons of waste in Metro Manila ends up in rivers, estuaries, and other bodies of water — including Manila Bay.
A diagram, released by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Tuesday, shows waste generation of local government units in the National Capital Region.
It showed Quezon City generates 3,151,961 kg a day; Marikina City with 459,932 kg per day; San Juan City with 54,239 kg per day; Pasig City with 411,240 kg per day; Mandaluyong City with 279,000 kg per day; Pateros with 13,752 kg per day; and Taguig City with 80,575 kg per day.
It also revealed that Muntinlupa City generates 290,780 kg per day; Valenzuela City with 207,520 kg per day; Malabon City with 304,282 kg per day; Navotas City with 78,752 kg per day; Manila City with 1,174,821 kg per day; Makati City with 513,108 kg per day; Paranaque City with 579,555 kg per day; and Las Pinas City with 410,000 kg per day.
Data from the Senate Economic Planning Office (SEPO) released in November 2017 showed Metro Manila generates the most waste in the country at 25 percent.
Only 85 percent of the total garbage volume from Metro Manila is being collected to be disposed at sanitary landfills.
The uncollected waste ends up mostly in rivers, esteros, and other water bodies, thus, polluting major water bodies and clogging the drainage systems, which results in flooding during heavy rains.
Open dumping remains the general practice of waste disposal in the country as controlled dumpsites and sanitary landfills (SLFs) are very limited.
The DENR is now pushing for the establishment of cluster sanitary landfills or common sanitary landfills in the country to address waste disposal problems.
The Philippines’ waste generation continues to rise with the increase in population, improvement of living standards, rapid economic growth, and industrialization, especially in the urban areas.
