Senator Urges Strict Ecological Solid Waste Management
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Loren Legarda has strongly called for the strict and immediate enforcement of environmental laws, especially the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, to address the worsening floods in Metro Manila and other parts of the country. The senator emphasized that without proper ecological solid waste management, flooding will continue to threaten communities and livelihoods.
“We are drowning in our own waste and garbage,” Legarda stated, underscoring how clogged waterways from unmanaged solid waste worsen flooding problems. She highlighted that poor implementation of solid waste regulations directly contributes to these recurring disasters, showing a clear link between environmental neglect and increased climate risks.
Flooding Worsens Due to Waste Mismanagement
Legarda, the principal author of Republic Act No. 9003, pointed out that the accumulation of garbage in rivers and canals is a glaring example of non-compliance with the solid waste law. “Our waterways are clogged with garbage. This is a clear sign of non-compliance with our solid waste law. Flooding is not just a matter of inconvenience; it puts our families, our children, our neighbors, and our kababayans’ lives at risk,” she said. She stressed that clean, safe, and flood-free communities can only be achieved by following basic environmental rules.
Aside from waste disposal issues, the senator also cited illegally built structures obstructing waterways and weak enforcement at the community level as factors that worsen flooding during heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon or habagat.
Restoring Waterways and Community Action Needed
“Houses, buildings, and structures made of cement and asphalt have been built over many waterways, canals, and rivers. We must restore these esteros and canals before more Filipinos suffer or lose their livelihoods, and worse, their lives. We continue to be flooded due to our negligence,” Legarda warned. She added that tackling these root causes is essential because no flood control infrastructure alone can fully protect communities.
“Unless these root issues are confronted, no flood control projects can fully protect us and our communities. We have to acknowledge that this is not only an infrastructure problem but a behavioral and policy enforcement crisis,” she said.
Legarda encouraged residents to actively participate in barangay clean-up drives. She also called on local government units (LGUs), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and relevant national agencies to intensify efforts to rehabilitate waterways and flood-prone areas.
Shared Responsibility for Flood Prevention
“Flood management is not just a government responsibility. As citizens, we also have to do our part. Flood prevention starts at home. If each one of us would segregate garbage and avoid single-use plastics, we can gradually solve the problem of flooding. We all must help clean and protect our communities,” Legarda said.
She also urged the maritime sector to keep their waste on board, reminding ship operators that dumping garbage at sea affects coastal communities who did not cause the pollution.
“All boats, ships, and vessels have equal duties to our seas. They must never dump waste into the sea as habagat currents carry garbage to coastal communities who did not cause the pollution,” she emphasized.
Legarda concluded by reminding everyone, “Never throw anything in the street, canal, waterway, river, or sea. Our seas, oceans, and rivers are waters that sustain life — they are not trash bins.”
Climate Crisis Links to Flooding Impact
As a longtime climate advocate, Legarda connected the increasing severity of floods and extreme weather events to the broader climate crisis. She is the principal author and sponsor of the Climate Change Act of 2009 and recently chaired the High-level Meeting of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, urging global leaders to fast-track climate finance, resilience, and nature-based solutions.
Legarda remains a committed environmental champion, emphasizing that protecting natural ecosystems is vital for disaster resilience and sustainable development, local leaders noted.
For more news and updates on ecological solid waste management, visit Filipinokami.com.
