The Malabon City government collected over 6,500 cubic meters of trash in just one week following days of heavy rainfall in late July.

City officials said on Tuesday, August 5,  that while their teams responded promptly to clear streets and waterways once the floodwaters receded, the volume of garbage collected, composed of plastic, styrofoam, wood, and other debris, remains a major concern.

"Malabueños, nitong nakaraang bagyo at pagbabaha sa lungsod, nasiguro po natin na hindi tayo nagkaroon ng malaking problema sa basura. Agad po tayong nagpadala ng mga tauhan para isagawa ang paglilinis sa mga pangunahing kalsada at daanan ng tubig tuwing tumitigil ang ulan at humuhupa ang baha (Malabueños, during the recent typhoon and flooding in the city, we were able to ensure that we did not have a major garbage problem. We immediately dispatched personnel to clean up major roads and waterways whenever the rain stopped and the flood subsided),” Mayor Jeannie Sandoval said.

“Ito ay upang maiwasan ang pagtaas ng tubig sa mga daanan at kabahayan. Ngunit ang mga basurang nakolekta ay paalala na dapat tayong maging responsable pagdating sa kalinisan. Magtapon ng basura sa tamang lagayan at makibahagi sa mga programa para sa kapakanan ng kapaligiran ( This is to prevent water from rising in roads and homes. But the garbage collected is a reminder that we must be responsible when it comes to cleanliness. Dispose of garbage in the right bins and participate in programs for the protection of the environment)" she added.

The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) led the cleanup operations from July 21 to 27, deploying personnel to clear roads and unclog waterways in various barangays. The city's trash rake facility in Barangay Tonsuya also removed over 280 sacks of floating waste from Letre Creek.

“Nakakaiwas tayo sa malalang pagbaha dahil mabilis ang aksyon ng lungsod, pero kung hindi magbabago ang ugali ng iilan sa pagtatapon ng basura, paulit-ulit itong problema (We are able to avoid severe flooding because the city acted quickly, but if the behavior of a few people in disposing of garbage does not change, this problem will continue to occur),” CENRO Chief Mark Mesina said.

On Saturday, August 4, the local government deployed its “Key Mobile Jeannie Services” to bring cleaning, safety, and hygiene assistance directly to communities, including mobile washing and flushing units, as well as cleanup operations at Dampalit Elementary School and nearby areas.

While the city mayor and department heads highlighted the city’s sustained efforts, they also called out the misplaced blame that sometimes falls on city officials when waste accumulates in certain areas.

“May mga pagkakataon na sa halip na tulungan ang pamahalaan, may ilang reklamo agad. Pero ang totoo, may tungkulin rin ang bawat barangay sa kanilang nasasakupan (There are times when instead of helping the government, others choose to just complain about it. But the truth is, each barangay also has a duty to perform),” Mesina said.

They also encouraged residents to coordinate directly with their barangay leaders or the city government for assistance in sanitation and flood prevention efforts, especially during the rainy season.