MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday pushed for a stronger and more accessible waste management system before imposing harsher penalties on litterers, saying fines alone cannot solve the country’s garbage problem when communities lack proper disposal and collection facilities.
Marcos made the statement while inspecting cleanup and garbage collection operations along the Baclaran River in Parañaque City, where huge volumes of trash and debris had accumulated following days of heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon.
The President said the government must first ensure that people have accessible places to properly dispose of their waste before relying on tougher penalties to discourage littering.
“It’s not useful to fine people for not throwing their garbage if there is no place to put their garbage. Of course, people are aware that there are fines. No one wants to be fined,” Marcos said.
He stressed that an organized garbage collection and disposal system should form the backbone of efforts to address the country’s mounting waste problem, citing Japan as an example of a country with effective waste management facilities.
“But we also need to provide facilities where people can properly dispose of their garbage. Sometimes, it’s really that simple. Sometimes, the problem is just that simple,” he added.
Marcos made the remarks as national government agencies and local authorities continued clearing waterways clogged with garbage and debris following heavy rains that caused flooding in parts of Metro Manila.
The accumulation of waste in the Baclaran River underscored concerns that improperly disposed garbage is contributing to the obstruction of waterways and aggravating flooding during periods of intense rainfall.
Asked whether the condition of the Baclaran River had reached crisis proportions, Marcos acknowledged the seriousness of the situation but stopped short of declaring a garbage crisis.
“Yeah, it certainly is. Just look at it. Does that look critical to you? It does to me,” he said.
“So yes. I wouldn’t call it a garbage crisis. But that is the problem that we are facing,” he added.
The President’s position comes amid renewed calls for tougher sanctions against littering following the buildup of garbage in waterways and flooding in parts of the capital.
In September 2025, the Metro Manila Council approved a resolution imposing a uniform P5,000 fine for littering across Metro Manila’s 16 cities.
Pateros, the capital region’s lone municipality, has a lower maximum penalty of P2,500 under the Local Government Code.
Marcos, however, maintained that penalties must be backed by a functioning waste management system that gives residents practical and accessible means to properly dispose of their garbage./PN
