By Erma Edera
The city government of Manila has allotted at least P83 million to keep Manila clean, in particular to address the city’s garbage problem, Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada said.
Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada (Linus Escandor/Manila Bulletin)
According to Estrada, he set aside the funds following floods that swamped many parts of Manila due to clogged waterways as a result of indiscriminate throwing of waste into the rivers, creeks, and canals.
“To address the garbage problem, I have already set aside P45 million to the Department of Public Services (DPS) to hire 1,000 street sweepers and another P38 million to purchase six dump trucks,” Estrada said.
However, he said the city council must still approve the resolution for the implementation of the cleanup project.
The said project would include the resolution for the building and upgrading of waste sorting facilities, additional garbage bins, trucks, and transfer stations.
He also warned the city’s hauling contractor, IPM to improve its garbage collection in the city or he will revoke its contract with the city government.
Meanwhile, IPM officials said that they have assured the city government of regular waste collection in Manila.
Mayor Estrada also appealed to PhilEco, the barge operator that transports tons of garbage to Navotas dumpsite to give priority to Manila’s wastes.
On August 12, a stretch of Roxas Boulevard briefly turned into a “sea of trash” when heaps of garbage from Manila Bay were washed ashore, following a storm surge dumped by the southwest monsoon or “habagat” enhanced by a tropical depression and tropical storm “Karding.”