Barangay officials in Anolid, Mangaldan, Pangasinan have stepped up daily rounds and public announcements to address a growing problem: unpaid garbage fees that are pushing the barangay deeper into debt.

Barangay Chairperson Marissa Honsayco said only a small number of residents regularly pay the garbage fee, leaving the barangay struggling to settle its monthly obligations with the local government.

“Monthly dumarating ang statement of account namin. Nitong October lang, 157 thousand ang babayaran namin, samantalang ang nasisingil lang namin ay nasa 60 thousand pesos,” Honsayco said.

To prevent the debt from growing further, the barangay announced the strict implementation of a no payment, no garbage collection policy. Officials said continuing to collect trash from households that do not pay would only worsen the barangay’s financial burden.

Honsayco explained that collection of garbage fees will now be done at the same time as trash pickup to ensure transparency.

“Upon pick-up, ‘yun na rin ang collection ng payment para makita natin kung sino ba talaga ang mga nagbabayad,” she said.

Some residents expressed support for the policy, noting that the garbage fee — ₱100 per month or ₱25 per week — is affordable and necessary to keep the community clean.

“Okay ‘yun. Dapat talaga magbayad sila,” Fely Galvan, a resident, said.

“Dapat magbayad kasi kawawa naman ang barangay na lalaki na ang utang,” Ferdinand Reside, another resident, added.

Barangay officials said they hope the continuous public announcements will help residents understand the importance of paying garbage fees and lead to a long-term solution to the waste management problem in Anolid.