MANILA – The city government of Manila on Tuesday gave its new waste management contractors until January 10 to collect the remaining holiday garbage.
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna issued the directive to Philippine Ecology Systems Corp. (PhilEco) and MetroWaste Solid Waste Management Corp., which recently bagged the capital city’s PHP842.7 million garbage collection deal.
“We have already given a clear directive and deadline to PhilEco and MetroWaste before January 10. They must finish the collection of all the piles of garbage from Christmas and New Year,” she said in a statement.
“We monitor their operation every day to make sure it is being fulfilled. We will not stop this problem until order is restored in Manila.”
Lacuna, meanwhile, denied the claims of the city’s former garbage collector Leonel Waste Management Corp. that Manila still owes them more than PHP500 million.
“As for Leonel Waste Management Corp., we would like to clarify that their departure as the city’s contractor is not because of the alleged debt. It is true that there is still a payment left for their service in 2024, but this is only a few months of service and is currently being processed,” she said.
“The amount they say is PHP561.4 million is far from reality. We fulfill our obligations honestly and truthfully. We do not run away from our debt like others.”
Lacuna said Leonel Waste Management’s non-participation in the public bidding for the new contract was the company leadership’s decision.
“It is clear from my last interview with them, that this is not because of any lack of obligation that they say Manila has with them. However, we cannot allow the operation of the city to be affected just because of one individual’s change of mind,” she said.
Under the new garbage collection and disposal contracts, MetroWaste will service Manila’s Districts 1, 2, and 3, while PhilEco will cover Districts 4, 5, and 6.
Lacuna earlier said the city government expects PhilEco and MetroWaste to “do a much better job than the previous contractor.”
“The city will honor the contracts with PhilEco and MetroWaste, especially when they meet and exceed the performance measures and standards that are part of the contracts,” she said. (PNA)