Former actor Francisco Domagoso returns to a city overwhelmed by trash, declaring a state of emergency and facing significant backlash over prior administrations' mistakes.
Mountains of Refuse: Manila's Garbage Crisis Escalates Amid Leadership Challenges
Mountains of Refuse: Manila's Garbage Crisis Escalates Amid Leadership Challenges
Manila's mayor confronts urgent waste management crisis as garbage collections cease due to unpaid contracts.
Mayor Francisco Domagoso has stepped back into his role as the mayor of Manila against a backdrop of escalating waste management chaos. Upon returning to office on Monday, he was met with news that contracted waste collection services would terminate immediately due to unpaid invoices, plunging the city into a garbage crisis.
In the weeks leading up to his return, the streets of Manila became increasingly choked with uncollected rubbish, making some thoroughfares inaccessible. Image of overflowing bins and trash strewn across commercial areas became common as monsoon rains turned litter into a more hazardous problem. The situation has created a dire health risk, with the odor of decaying waste permeating neighborhoods home to nearly two million residents, according to Domagoso.
“It’s a blight on our city, a public health emergency that we must tackle immediately,” Domagoso stated in a televised address. In response to the immediate danger, he urged citizens to temporarily store their trash at home until garbage collection resumed and declared a state of emergency the following day.
Remarkably, Domagoso's own journey began as a garbage collector before transitioning into a successful acting career, giving him a unique perspective on the issue at hand. In a session with the City Council, he leveled accusations against the previous administration, led by Honey Lacuna, claiming they left behind substantial debts that now burden the city and hinder essential services.
