Metro Manila solid waste management system is the absolute "worst in the world"--no wonder it's so susceptible to floods.

Caloocan City 2nd district Rep. Edgar "Egay" Erice raised this sentiment Wednesday, Aug. 13 during House Committee on Public Accounts hearing on the Department of Public Works and Highways' (DPWH) flood control and drainage projects.

According to Erice, some 1.8 million tons of garbage go uncollected each year. And these have nowhere else to go but straight into Metro Manila’s waterways.

Clogged waterways and heavy rains make a perfect recipe for worsened floods.

Erice said metro residents who don't get visited by garbage collectors will eventually be forced to discard their trash on the street or in rivers.

"Mauuwi rin sa drainage at, sa huli, sa mga waterways. Kaya problema ito ng sistema (The garbage will end up in the drainage and eventually, in the waterways. So this is a systemic problem),” the returning solon noted.

Citing a 2020 scientific study published by Bloomberg, Erice said the Philippines accounts for 34.7 percent of the plastic pollution in the world’s oceans—far more than any other country.

He says Metro Manila produces 11,000 tons of garbage daily, but only 30 to 40 percent is collected.

Even if only half--or about 5,000 tons--of the daily waste goes uncollected, Erice says it still results to 1.8 million tons of garbage. This mound of waste can damage pumping stations no matter how powerful or durable they are, he said.

Erice claims that garbage collection in Metro Manila is controlled by a few contractors who also own the dump sites. This creates a monopoly that undermines competition and efficiency in solid waste management.

He also criticized the DPWH for suspending the dredging of waterways for a decade due to alleged corruption. This move, he said, has allowed silt and trash to build up and worsen flooding.

Erice proposed an immediate action plan that includes dredging all waterways in Metro Manila. He asked the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to require mayors to ensure garbage in waterways is collected, and prioritizing the removal of structures built directly above natural waterways.

These measures, he said, could cut flooding time from three hours to just 30 minutes.

Erice also urged the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to break the monopoly of existing landfill contractors and open bidding for modern waste disposal solutions, including waste-to-energy facilities and engineered landfills.

“Magpalabas na kayo ng notice kung sino ang magpo-propose for other forms or other areas for landfill or waste to energy. Sigurado ako maraming negosyante ang papasok diyan. Viable na viable ang waste to energy, viable na viable ang modern landfill, engineered dumpsite,” he said.

(You should issue a notice identifying who will propose other forms or other areas for landfill or waste-to-energy. I'm sure many businessmen will get involved. Waste-to-energy is highly viable, and so are modern landfills and engineered dumpsites.)

Erice said his proposals can deliver visible results within a year. “’Yan ang short-term solution para next year hindi puro nagsasalita lang tayo, walang output para sa ating mga mamamayan (That’s the short-term solution so that next year we’re not just talking without delivering any output for our countrymen)."

Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon chairs the public accounts panel.