# Metro Manila waste management and flooding crisis > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/metro-manila-waste-management-and-flooding-crisis > Updated: 2026-08-14T05:12:54.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2. Metro Manila is experiencing a waste management crisis that has exacerbated flooding during the monsoon season. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. described garbage levels as being at a ‘critical’ stage, noting that waste accumulation has blocked waterways and hindered flood control operations. To address the issue, the administration is pursuing a waste-to-energy program. Meanwhile, local government responses vary; in Manila, officials have implemented weekly de-clogging drives and prepared medical supplies to combat leptospirosis risks. In Parañaque, residents reported a “sea of trash” in local water channels following heavy rains and high tides. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority reported collecting nearly 749 metric tons of waste over a four-day period in mid-August. While environmental groups advocate for single-use plastic bans, President Marcos Jr. has indicated that improving waste disposal facilities is a higher priority than imposing fines. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-14: Metro Manila faces waste management and flooding challenges Metro Manila faces severe flooding and waste management issues as monsoon rains clog waterways with massive amounts of debris, prompting calls for better infrastructure and local government accountability. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/metro-manila-faces-waste-management-and-flooding-challenges ### 2026-08-11: Marcos warns Metro Manila garbage levels are at ‘critical’ stage President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned that garbage levels in Metro Manila have reached a ‘critical’ state, clogging waterways and worsening floods caused by monsoon rains. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/marcos-warns-metro-manila-garbage-levels-are-at-critical-stage --- Cite as: Metro Manila waste management and flooding crisis. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/metro-manila-waste-management-and-flooding-crisis