The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is mounting an "all-out" effort to address urban flooding and improper waste disposal through expanded cleanup operations and local government partnerships.

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto announced during an interagency meeting that clearing, declogging, and desilting operations are underway along esteros, rivers and drainage systems in Metro Manila.

"Our meeting revealed that there is no garbage crisis in Metro Manila, but there is a crisis in improper garbage disposal," Recto said. "The message of the President is clear: this is a problem that requires a whole-of-society approach, including our citizens."

Recto highlighted that blocked waterways aggravate seasonal flooding, comparing clogged canals to "garbage expressways" that carry discarded waste directly into Manila Bay.

He urged the public to adopt better waste segregation and disposal habits, noting that civic discipline is essential to sustaining long-term flood control measures.

Under the Department of Public Works and Highways’ "Oplan Kontra Baha," operations are being conducted alongside the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and local government units.

Authorities are also inspecting pumping stations and coordinating logistics to ensure adequate trucks, staging areas, and disposal facilities are available for rapid waste removal.

To support these efforts, officials are studying whether to allocate a portion of local government units' National Tax Allotment specifically for solid waste management.

The national government is also expanding initiatives such as the Cleanest Barangay Program, waterway trash traps, Estero Rangers, and the procurement of waste management equipment for 16 local government units.