President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reaffirmed his commitment to implementing waste-to-energy (WTE) technology to address the severe garbage accumulation clogging Metro Manila’s waterways and worsening urban flooding.
Inspecting a drainage pumping facility in Las Piñas City, the President highlighted the potential of converting solid waste into electricity.
He noted that processing collected trash would significantly reduce landfill volume and keep debris out of vital drainage systems.
“Kami naman sa pamahalaan, itutuloy na namin yung sa waste-to-energy program,” Marcos stated.
The President pointed to Parañaque City as a prime example, where recent heavy rainfall and high tides trapped vast amounts of floating trash in local channels.
“Nakita niyo yung mga picture. Punong-puno ng basura yung mga kanal na hindi naman galing sa Parañaque. Galing sa ibang lugar yun,” he observed, pointing out that much of the waste originated elsewhere before washing downstream.
“Napakalaking bagay niyan kapag nagawa natin,” Marcos added regarding the proposed energy conversion strategy.
Urging local government units and residents to practice responsible waste management, Marcos emphasized that clean drainage channels are crucial to preventing catastrophic floods.
The WTE push complements the administration’s broader flood mitigation campaign, “Oplan Kontra Baha”—launched in November 2025—which focuses on continuous dredging, declogging, and completing long-delayed drainage infrastructure across the capital region.