By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Metro Manila’s worsening garbage problem is now pushing local governments toward a unified crackdown on littering and illegal dumping, with a proposed “garbage police” and common anti-littering rules being developed across the capital region to help keep waterways clear and reduce flooding.
Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos said Tuesday that the initiative, backed by the Metro Manila Council (MMC), would not diminish the authority of cities and municipalities but instead force a more coordinated response to a problem that routinely crosses political boundaries.
“I am grateful to the Metro Manila Council and our mayors for recognizing the need for a stronger and more coordinated response to littering and illegal dumping,” Santos said.
“This is not about taking away the authority of any LGU. It is about working together to address a problem that does not recognize political or city boundaries,” he added.
Santos said he was invited to Monday’s MMC meeting to discuss his proposal for a uniform anti-littering ordinance and dedicated teams that would enforce waste-disposal rules throughout Metro Manila.
The push comes as authorities confront massive amounts of garbage clogging waterways. Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon earlier described the situation as a “garbage crisis” after some 500 tons of waste were removed from the Baclaran estero.
Santos said the scale of the problem shows why isolated city-level enforcement is no longer enough, particularly because blocked waterways can worsen flooding across neighboring LGUs.
The lawmaker first raised the proposal on Aug. 13 following widespread flooding brought by heavy rains.
He said Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, already prohibits littering and improper disposal of garbage in public places. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority imposes a P500 administrative fine or one day of community service for violations, while individual LGUs may impose additional penalties under their respective ordinances.
But Santos said enforcement remains uneven and penalties alone have failed to stop indiscriminate dumping.
His proposed “garbage police” would consist of dedicated personnel assigned to monitor waste disposal and apprehend violators, separate from regular barangay police.
“Garbage has no boundaries. If our waterways are blocked and flooding ensues, it does not ask what city the water should go to. So we need to have a coordinated solution,” Santos said.
Santos said MMC President and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora will head a technical working group tasked with studying and refining the proposed uniform ordinance and enforcement mechanism.
MMDA Chairperson Don Artes has also expressed support for the initiative.
Santos said his proposal was shaped partly by his own experience in local government and was not intended to undermine the authority of mayors.
“The reason why I raised this proposal is not only because I am a Congressman, but also as a person who came from the local government and someone who understands and respects the important role that our Mayors at LGUs play,” he said.
With hundreds of tons of waste already being pulled from Metro Manila waterways, Santos said the region needs to treat garbage as a shared problem requiring a shared enforcement strategy—before clogged waterways translate into another round of preventable flooding.
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