‘Isko’ bares Manila garbage disposal, trash to cash plans

MANILA, Philippines – Manila mayoral candidate Francisco “Isko Moreno” Moreno Domagoso on Friday vowed to address the garbage problem in Manila should he be elected in the May 13 elections.

“Napansin nyo po ang Maynila, dugyot? Alin yung dugyot? Yung may libag, banil, yung hindi natatanggal na libag,” Moreno said.

“These are aesthetics. Don’t get me wrong. It may not be the biggest issue in this city. This may be aesthetics but this also affects our daily lives,” he added.

He then vowed to clean up Manila, saying that the garbage problem is not only an eyesore  but a health threat as well.

“We will clean Manila,” Moreno said.

“Kasi mahirap ang problemang basura dahil ang problemang basura hindi lang sa mata masakit, magkakasakit ang lungsod ng Maynila at mamamayan nito pag hindi ‘yan in-address,” he added.

Former garbage collector

The former Manila vice mayor and Social Welfare undersecretary also said that managing waste is his expertise since he was once a garbage collector when he was a high school student.

“Meron na kayong kandidatong basurero,” Moreno said.

‘Pagkain sa basura’

Among his proposed solutions to solve the garbage problem is the “Pagkain sa Basura” program where the government would give incentives or “freebies” to residents who will clean up and surrender their garbage to the local government.

“Pagtapos naming kolektahin ang mga basura ninyo —be it plastic, papel, karton, aluminum, bote — bibilhin yan ng City of Manila,” Moreno said.

“Susumahin yan at bibigyan namin kayo ng card o coupon. ‘Yung coupon, may points. ‘Yung points may katumbas na pagkain,” he added.

Moreno said the corresponding commodities would be claimed at a Kadiwa Store which he plans to revive.

P1 million for cleanest barangay

He said he would also initiate a competition between barangays in all districts where the cleanest six barangays in six districts would win an additional P1 million for their  “green fund” budget.

“Naglinis ka na ng barangay, may additional ka pang P1 million. Every corner of every block will of course want to win the P1 million so everybody will compete,” he said.

“Kapag hindi pa naman nalinis ang Maynila, ewan ko na lang,” he added.

Moreno is in a three-way race for Manila mayor with incumbent Joseph “Erap” Estrada and former Manila mayor Alfredo Lim.

The campaign period for local candidates officially started on Friday, March 29. / gsg