Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna has assured residents that the city’s garbage crisis will be resolved by 10 January 2025 as she directed the two new garbage contractors, PhilEco and MetroWaste, to complete the collection of all accumulated garbage by that date.

In a statement, Lacuna addressed criticisms from the previous contractor, Leonel, saying that the company abandoned its duties before the contract’s end and has been unwilling to cooperate with the transition.

“We have given PhilEco and MetroWaste a deadline — to finish collecting all the accumulated garbage from Christmas and New Year before Friday, 10 January. We will not stop until order is restored in the City of Manila,” Lacuna said.

Lacuna clarified that the city has no unpaid debts to Leonel, except for a few final payments that are undergoing the standard budget, accounting and auditing processes.

“According to reports from the barangays, Leonel abandoned their duties in the city as early as 30 December 2024, even though their contract was until 31 December 2024,” Lacuna said.

“Leonel has also refused to cooperate for a smooth transition to the two new service providers,” she added.

Regarding Leonel’s claim of a P561.4-million debt, Lacuna said that it was not true, adding that disbursements for payments to Leonel go through a process.

“It’s not like paying household bills. There are government accounting, auditing requirements and procedures mandated by law that must be followed,” Lacuna said.

The lady mayor added that the city has complete records at the Office of the City Treasurer and that the claim of a P561.4-million debt is false.

She also stressed that Leonel is aware of the city’s payment processes.

“Leonel did not participate in the bidding process for the 2025 contract,” Lacuna said.

“They claimed that they did not participate because the City Hall owed them money, but that is a lie. In September 2024, I met with Leonel’s owner, Nathaniel ‘Nel’ Velasco and there was no discussion about any debt during that meeting,” she added.