At least 195 truckloads of garbage have been collected by personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) from Radial Road 10 (R-10) in Manila since 24 June, as part of intensified cleanup operations amid the onset of the rainy season.

According to MMDA Metro Parkways Clearing Group (MPCG) Director Francis Martinez, the persistent dumping of waste along the stretch of R-10 remains a major challenge despite daily clearing efforts.

R-10 is a major thoroughfare in Manila that runs along the western side of the city near the port area.

“We already collected 195 truckloads of garbage just in Manila. But the next day, garbage reappears in the same places,” Martinez said in an interview. “This is why we’re calling for discipline in waste disposal. This trash is what causes flooding.”

Martinez urged barangay officials to deploy tanods and enforcers to monitor the area 24/7, especially at night when most of the illegal dumping occurs.

He said, “Some residents dump their garbage here at night. By morning, it’s piled up again. That’s why we’re asking the barangay captains to monitor this closely, not just by deploying guards but also barangay enforcers who can immediately catch and hold violators accountable.”

The agency noted that much of the trash comes from nearby food establishments and junk traders, who pay informal garbage collectors to dispose of waste. With no one watching the area, the trash often ends up dumped along R-10.

Martinez added, “There are nearby groups who buy recyclables, but when those bins are full and no one is watching, they throw everything out here.”

Martinez also called out vendors who stack their wares or recyclable materials along the road, further contributing to street obstruction and sanitation problems.

“We’re asking for cooperation. The MMDA has been deploying all our resources here—trucks, backhoes, and platform teams—from other districts just to support Manila’s cleanup,” Martinez said.

Without stricter enforcement and active participation from local government units, including barangay leaders, the problem will persist.

“If the barangay captains fail to act, this will continue indefinitely. We can clean it up today, but the next day the trash returns,” he said.

The clearing operations along R-10 started on 24 June, responding to a call from Manila City Hall to help address widespread garbage buildup ahead of peak monsoon flooding.