Residents and officials of Barangay Guilig in Mangaldan, Pangasinan are struggling with a growing garbage problem, as waste volume in their community has almost doubled in recent months.

Leonardo Bautista, Sr., a resident of the barangay, said their household collects up to three drums of trash every week.

“Dumami talaga, may mga pagkakataon din na kaunti pero mas madalas marami, kasi naman ‘yung mga sanga ng punong kahoy tapos mga dahon naiipon,” he said.

Barangay officials confirmed the increase, noting that their transfer facility now receives almost 50 cubic meters of waste monthly, compared to the usual 30 cubic meters. They pointed to poor waste segregation by some residents as a main factor.

Kagawad Nilson Tibunsay said their garbage collectors start early and work until after lunch to keep up.

“Alas sais ng umaga nag ko-collecta na sila ng basura, natatapos after lunch na,” Tibunsay said.

Because of the increasing amount of trash, the barangay’s garbage fee payments to the local government unit also climbed, doubling from almost P20,000 to more than P40,000 a month.

Despite this, Tibunsay assured residents that their monthly fee of P200 will not go up.

“Wala na kaming plano na magtaas ng singil kasi nahihirapan na nga kami maningil. Kung ano lang masingil, dinadagdagan na lang ng council,” he said.

Barangay officials urged residents to be more responsible in handling their waste to help manage the growing problem.