Metro Manila spent P4.2B to get rid of 2013 garbage

MANILA, Philippines – The combined garbage hauling expenses of all Metro Manila local government units (LGUs) reached P4.221 billion ($93.855 million)* in 2013, according to year-end reports of the Commission on Audit (COA).

Topping the list as the biggest spender is Quezon City, the most populated area in Metro Manila. The 2013 Consolidated Statement of Income and Expenses showed the “environmental/sanitary services” of Quezon City cost P994.590 million ($22.115 million).

One of the factors contributing to Quezon City’s huge spending on garbage is its practice of paying contractors to collect trash rather than decentralizing garbage collection and disposal. (READ: QC wastes P250M yearly with flawed garbage program)

The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act or Republic Act 9003 requires LGUs to decentralize the system and orders all barangays to have a materials recovery facility (MRF). But the QC government said that the law is too “difficult to implement”. (READ: QC gov’t: Garbage law to difficult to implement)

From 2012, the garbage disposal expenses of QC rose by 10%.

The complete list in the nation’s capital by order of their expenditures is as follows:

1. Quezon City – P994.590 million ($22.115 million)
2. Manila City – P512.564 million ($11.397 million)
3. Makati City – P440.157 million ($9.787 million)
4. Caloocan City – P421.921 million ($9.381 million)
5. Pasay City – P376.135 million ($8.363 million)
6. Parañaque City – P318.713 million ($7.086 million)
7. Pasig City – P295.78 million ($6.576 million)
8. Mandaluyong City – P205.92 million ($4.578 million)
9. Muntinlupa City – P190.215 million ($4.229 million)
10. Valenzuela City – P121.206 million ($2.695 million)
11. Las Piñas City – P91.016 million ($2.023 million)
12. Malabon City – P84.076 million ($1.867 million)
13. San Juan City – P77.467 million ($1.722 million
14. Marikina City – P43.464 million ($988,676)
15. Navotas City – P38.26 million ($850,728)

Pateros, Metro Manila’s lone municipality, spent the least amount of money on garbage at P9.478 million ($210,747). – Rappler.com 

*$1 = P44