CAGAYAN DE ORO: Waste management has become a top priority in this city following the New Year celebration, with reports highlighting the accumulation of uncollected trash in major public markets. Local authorities are taking immediate action to address the situation.

According to Philippines News Agency, Allan Villalba, chief of the City Public Service Office, stated in a radio interview that the local government’s third-party contractor for garbage collection has deployed additional workers to major public markets and streets. This move aims to expedite the removal of the increased piles of garbage observed on the first morning of 2025. Villalba noted that the volume of garbage has increased compared to previous years due to a rise in the number of vendors operating on sidewalks.

Efforts to tackle the waste management issue involve collaboration between two city government departments tasked with accelerating the garbage collection and street cleaning processes. In anticipation of the New Year celebration, garbage had already begun to accumulate on sidewalks in major public markets.

The city employs a scheduled rotation of garbage trucks managed by a third-party contractor, Tencil company, to facilitate the collection process. The local government hopes that these measures will effectively address the waste management challenges and restore cleanliness to the city’s streets and markets.