Government funds are running out due to tons of garbage in Metro Manila after the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) spent P3.336 billion in 2022 to pay the contractor to haul it.
This is based on the 2022 Financial Statements of the MMDA released by the Commission on Audit (COA) under the “Environmental/Sanitary Services” account.
According to the COA, the amount is high compared to the P3.217 billion spent in 2021.
It is known that the expenditure in 2018 was higher by 83.6 percent compared to last year.
According to the COA, the biggest increase occurred from 2019 to 2020 during the tenure of former MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim, who served between May 2017 and January 2021.
Based on the breakdown of MMDA’s solid waste hauling contract over the past five years, the expenditures were: P1.817 billion in 2018; P2.049 billion (2019); P2.873 billion (2020); P3.218 billion (2021) and P3.336 billion in 2022.
Meanwhile, it is said that the increase in waste collection costs in Metro Manila may affect the lifespan of available sanitary landfills.
In 2018, the MMDA set a target of 20 years and two months on the capacity of landfills. At the end of 2022, the agency said the landfill will still be the designated landfill and will be available for 11 years, depending on whether the waste of the 14 million residents in MM is still in a similar volume or quantity.
Government funds running out due to waste management
Garbage collection is expected to increase in the coming years.
From 9.07 million metric tons collected in 2006, it increased to 16.63 million metric tons in 2020.
In 2021, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority launched a project where residents can exchange their garbage for grocery items.
Under the project, Metro Manila residents can exchange their garbage, such as bottles and newspapers, for essential goods, such as canned goods, rice, and noodles.
It is said that the barangay personnel themselves will go from house to house and convert the garbage they give into points, which will be used to sell the products.
The MMDA will also hold seminars to teach proper composting to help local governments’ waste management.
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