BAGUIO CITY — Individual discipline is critical to addressing the localized impacts of climate change, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said Wednesday, criticizing residents who deliberately pollute local waterways during heavy rains.

Speaking at a disaster risk reduction forum at City Hall, Magalong said that while the city’s global climate footprint is small, the accumulation of neglected daily actions creates significant environmental damage.

The mayor detailed specific environmental violations across the mountain resort city, noting that local creeks and rivers remain heavily clogged with plastics, single-use sachets and garbage.

He specifically condemned a recurring practice where some residents open their septic tanks during typhoons to let human waste discharge directly into public waterways. He also cited recent incidents of individuals dumping rotten meat into the city’s river systems.

“These actions directly affect our shared environment,” Magalong said, adding that localized pollution ultimately compromises wider ecological systems.

He called on residents and visitors to practice proper garbage disposal, consistent waste segregation, and responsible wastewater management.

Magalong urged the forum’s attendees, mostly government officials and employees, to act as influencers in their communities to promote widespread compliance with environmental laws.