Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso urged city residents to practice proper waste management and to avoid dumping their trash into the streets in the face of a looming garbage and sanitation crisis following the closure of the Navotas sanitary landfill.

Domagoso issued the appeal during his inspection of the clean-up and declogging operation along Padre Faura Street corner Taft Avenue on Thursday, Aug. 28, with Vice Mayor Chi Atienza and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

The initiative mobilized MMDA personnel, city workers and volunteers to clear waste, remove obstructions, and assess the flow of water in drainage systems.

Officials said this effort is crucial to reducing the risk of flooding in the area during heavy rains, especially in one of Manila’s busiest intersections.

Domagoso personally inspected the ongoing operations and called on residents to maintain cleanliness and coordinate with local authorities to ensure that waterways remain free of blockages.

He and Atienza also commended the MMDA and the city personnel for their efforts, emphasizing that sustainable flood control and cleaner streets can only be achieved through active community participation.

Domagoso reminded the public that the city’s waste is now being hauled to the San Mateo landfill, a process that takes more time.

Because of this, he urged residents to properly store their garbage and wait for dump trucks to arrive instead of piling trash on the streets, warning that indiscriminate dumping can block waterways and worsen flooding during heavy rains.

The mayor stressed that while city personnel and MMDA workers are conducting regular clean-up and declogging operations, lasting solutions to flooding and waste management require discipline and cooperation from the public.