President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the lack of proper facilities for garbage disposal is making the country’s waste problem worse.

Marcos Jr. inspected the clearing operation at a pumping station along Jose W. Diokno Avenue in Pasay City, across the Senate compound, where large amounts of plastic, styrofoam, wood and other trash had piled up.

The President was joined by Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, Pasay Mayor Imelda “Emi” Calixto-Rubiano and MMDA Chairman Don Artes.

He warned that the garbage could quickly clog the pumping station, especially when floodwaters and high tide bring trash from Manila Bay into waterways.

“Pero makita ninyo kapag hindi natin nilinis ito, barado agad ang pumping station at ganyang karami ang pumasok na basura,” Marcos Jr. told reporters.

He said the government is also looking at waste-to-energy plants as a long-term solution, especially with landfills becoming more expensive and harder to use.

“Nandito si Sec. Sharon ng Department of Energy dahil pinag-uusapan namin nang mabuti yung waste to energy na mga plano,” according to him.

He said the government is studying where to put the plants to reduce the cost of hauling garbage for local governments.

“Ang ating iniisip, imbes landfill dadalhin, dadalhin sa waste to energy plant,” the President said.

Marcos Jr. also said the government is clearing waterways, canals and esteros, but these efforts will not be enough if garbage continues to clog pumping stations.

“We have to go through the entire process kung saan kayang makuha ang basura bago pumasok dito sa city, bago mapunta, mabara ang ating mga pumping stations,” he said.

On penalties for people who throw garbage anywhere, Marcos said fines alone will not solve the problem if there are no proper places to dispose of waste.

“It is not useful to fine people for not throwing their garbage if there is no place to put their garbage,” he said, citing Japan’s system where people keep their garbage until they can properly dispose of it.

“Kailangan bigyan din natin ng facilities na kung saan pwede itapon iyong basura,” Marcos Jr. said.

He said the waste-to-energy program will require coordination among government agencies, local governments and private groups. The government expects the program to start taking shape within one to one-and-a-half years.IMT