Manila's mayor, Francisco Domagoso, returned to office to an ongoing waste crisis, prompting a state of emergency declaration amid uncollected garbage overwhelming the city.
Manila Mayor Declares Emergency Amidst Garbage Crisis
Manila Mayor Declares Emergency Amidst Garbage Crisis
Mayor Francisco Domagoso addresses the alarming trash situation in Manila as waste management services cease operations due to unpaid bills.
In Manila, the capital of the Philippines, the situation has rapidly deteriorated as piles of waste litter the streets after garbage collection contractors halted their services, citing unpaid invoices as the main reason. Newly reinstated mayor Francisco Domagoso found himself confronting a deluge of unmanageable refuse on his first day back in office. Reports indicate that the accumulation of trash had become so severe that traffic was impeded in many areas, while heavy rains exacerbated the problem with flooding, further spreading the waste.
The stench of rotting garbage now plagues the nearly two million residents of Manila, particularly in densely populated districts and major thoroughfares that lead to significant government buildings such as City Hall and the Supreme Court. “It hurts the eyes, it hurts the nose, and it hurts public health,” Domagoso stated during a live broadcast, urging citizens to store their waste at home until normal collection resumes.
As he addressed the pressing issue, Domagoso pointed fingers at the previous administration, accusing former mayor Honey Lacuna of leaving the city in deep financial straits with the waste management companies. Domagoso, who has a background as a former garbage collector himself, pledged to resolve the crisis and restore efficient waste management services as part of his immediate agenda.
The stench of rotting garbage now plagues the nearly two million residents of Manila, particularly in densely populated districts and major thoroughfares that lead to significant government buildings such as City Hall and the Supreme Court. “It hurts the eyes, it hurts the nose, and it hurts public health,” Domagoso stated during a live broadcast, urging citizens to store their waste at home until normal collection resumes.
As he addressed the pressing issue, Domagoso pointed fingers at the previous administration, accusing former mayor Honey Lacuna of leaving the city in deep financial straits with the waste management companies. Domagoso, who has a background as a former garbage collector himself, pledged to resolve the crisis and restore efficient waste management services as part of his immediate agenda.
