Is Manila A Clean City?

Dec 5

An Overview Of Manila Cleanliness Challenges And Efforts

The Importance Of Clean Streets In Urban Manila

The honest truth is no, Manila is not really a very clean city by any means compared to other large Southeast Asian metropolises. Like most cities, however, it is a nuanced situation with some extremely clean neighborhoods and some poorly maintained neighborhoods and there are efforts being made to facilitate increased sanitation and cleanliness. Let’s do it step by step.

The Reality Behind Cleanliness in Manila

1. Waste Management Challenges

Manila is faced with enormous challenges when it comes to garbage collection and disposal. As a host to more than 13 million residents spread out in the Metro Manila area, the city generates thousands of tonnes of rubbish daily. Among its key challenges are:

Improper waste segregation
Small dumpsites
Inadequate recycling systems
River and street and alley illegal dumpsites

Regular garbage collection programs are non-existent for most areas, and open dumping and burning are common practice in certain wards.

A polluted canal in Manila filled with plastic waste. — **2. Air and Water Pollution**

Manila is further plagued by water and air pollution to add to its being “unclean.”
The Pasig River, formerly an active water highway, has long been grossly polluted.
Bad air quality is caused by heavy traffic especially during rush hours.
Drainage and flood circumstances after heavy precipitation oftentimes reveal rubbish and debris.

3. Public Spaces and Street Cleanliness

While a majority of Manila’s business centers such as Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Makati, and select areas in Ortigas are relatively clean and well-maintained, this is by no means the case when it is said regarding older and/or high-density areas such as Tondo, Quiapo, and Divisoria.

These are areas of the city with necessarily crowded streets, garbage dumpsters are generally sparse or overflowing and it is hard to maintain standards for public cleanup.

Community members participating in a clean-up drive along Manila Bay — **Improvement Efforts**

It isn’t all doom and gloom. Manila has tried its best to promote sanitation in recent decades. Some efforts have been:

1. Rehabilitation of Manila Bay

Launched in 2019, this government-led initiative aims to clean and restore the Manila Bay coastline. This includes regular coastal cleanups, installation of sewage treatment facilities, and public awareness campaigns.

2. Local Ordinances

Bylaws have been set by municipalities to prohibit littering, promote segregation, and prosecute unauthorized disposal of wastes. Enforcements are being conducted but patchily at some spots.

3. Community-Based Cleanups

Local village governments known as barangays, NGOs, and volunteer groups frequently conduct cleanup campaigns, particularly in relatively impacted neighborhoods.

government initiatives for improving sanitation and waste management. — **What Makes Parts of Manila Look Clean?**

Certain areas in Metro Manila do reach higher sanitation levels through management by the private sector:
Commercial areas like Makati and BGC are cleaner through private maintenance arrangements, better infrastructure, and stricter regulation enforcement.
Malls, hotels, and tourist spots are properly maintained to attract and retain visitors.
Gated communities usually have independent garbage disposal and cleanup facilities.
They are exceptions and not the norm.

A City Changes

Is Manila a clean city? No, at least not generally speaking. However, it is a changing city with growing public conscience about sanitation, sustainability, and city aesthetics. Like most developing world metropolises, Manila’s journey to being a clean city is one of combating poverty, upgrading infrastructures, and promoting education about waste management. Work is being done, and some is succeeding — but it is still a struggle for the city to maintain its cleanliness. Cleanliness is patchy in Manila, and whether it is clean or dirty is frequently a matter of who you are with it, when you are with it, and where you are taking it.