Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu said that the country’s current garbage problem, especially in Metro Manila, has reached crisis level.
He said time has come to make serious effort in properly managing wastes generated by Metro Manila and nearby areas, as he pointed out that the public continues their habit of indiscriminate dumping a few days after the cleanup efforts of authorities, civil society, and private sector are conducted.
Solid waste remains a huge problem in the country owing to non-segregation, rampant use of single-use plastic products, and improper waste disposal, Cimatu noted.
He said that Metro Manila with a total population of about 12.8 million has a target waste generation of 58,112.31 cubic meters for 2019.
But as of the first quarter of this year alone, Metro Manila has produced 34,574.77 cubic meters or 59.45 percent of the total target. By the second quarter, estimated waste generation reached 32,221.17 cubic meters, amounting to another 55.45 percent of total.
“The target waste generation baseline for 2019 of 58,112.31 cubic meters has already been surpassed,” Cimatu said. “We are now in the middle of a garbage crisis. If we continue to act only for our independent interests, continue to spoil our water bodies and fail to responsibly manage our wastes, we will not be able to sustain our efforts on this campaign,” he pointed out. (Ellalyn Ruiz)