10 Tons of Waste Collected in Iloilo Clean-Up Drive

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

At least 10 tons of waste were collected during Iloilo City’s inaugural city-wide Saturday clean-up drive, which aimed to improve environmental hygiene and prevent disease through community participation.

General Services Office (GSO) chief Engr. Neil Ravena told Daily Guardian that the waste collected, mostly plastics, came from city government-operated garbage trucks.

The total volume could be higher once data from JS Layson & Co. Inc., the city’s contracted garbage collector, is factored in.

Ravena said Barangay San Juan in Molo district, the launch site of the initiative, generated more than six tons of garbage alone.

The barangay is one of the city’s identified dengue hotspots.

“Our activity concentrated on the side of the barangay where part of the Batiano River is located,” he said.

“It is strategic for us to choose this as the first barangay for our clean-up activity.”

Ravena added that future Saturday clean-up drives will target barangays with active dengue cases.

The GSO deployed five city-owned garbage trucks, with additional units lent by other city offices.

Ravena assured that the city can sustain weekly clean-ups without overwhelming its collection system.

He emphasized that clean-up drives must be community-led to foster responsibility among residents.

He noted that involving the community regularly can shift public attitudes and raise long-term awareness about proper waste management.

“If we clean it, their mindset changes,” he said.

“They think it’s the city government alone that’s responsible for garbage collection and disposal.”

Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas, who led the kick-off activity, highlighted the barangay’s widespread garbage problem, clogged drainage systems and poor waste disposal practices.

Treñas stressed the importance of educating residents about proper waste disposal and installing larger garbage bins in accessible, strategic areas.

She added that the city will implement regular monitoring and coordinate with barangay officials to ensure the consistency and success of the weekly drives.