Rubbish collectors in the Philippines have been forced to wade through rivers choked with garbage following nine days of torrential monsoon rains. Images from Paranaque City show workers navigating waters nearly shoulder-deep with debris, which has accumulated due to the relentless downpour.
The waste has inundated waterways, rendering them barely visible in some areas. Sanitation crews are working to clear the clogged rivers and streams, utilizing cranes, boats, and containers to collect and store the trash. In one instance, a worker was seen standing in the bucket of a digger suspended over the water.
The Redemptorist Water Channel in Barangay Baclaran is among the hardest-hit areas, with workers submerged up to their necks in refuse.
Local authorities are reportedly considering implementing stricter littering fines in response to the crisis. A spokesperson for the president's office stated that the government desires clear waterways for unimpeded water flow.
Waste management has been a persistent issue in the region. A 2021 study identified the nearby Pasig River as a significant source of plastic pollution entering the ocean.
The monsoon has also led to fatalities and significant displacement. Landslides and rainfall have claimed several lives across the country, with others missing or injured. Over 500,000 people in 33 provinces have been affected, and an estimated 98,000 have been displaced from their homes, many of which sustained damage.
Tens of thousands have been moved to emergency shelters. The provinces of Benguet, Rizal, and Batangas on the main island of Luzon have recorded the most deaths. In Baguio City, landslides buried houses, resulting in four deaths and six missing individuals.
State weather forecasters reported that rainfall in Baguio from August 1-9 reached 1,413.2 millimeters (56 inches), significantly exceeding the monthly average. Parts of Metro Manila experienced rainfall equivalent to about 90 percent of a typical August.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon indicated on Monday evening that floodwaters were beginning to recede, but stressed the need to address long-standing issues with flood mitigation projects.
The Philippines, situated in the Pacific cyclone belt, experiences an average of 20 storms and typhoons annually, exacerbating disaster vulnerability and poverty. Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events to human-driven climate change.