As floodwaters receded slowly in Barangay Malued, Dagupan City, residents were left with another problem; piles of garbage that had been stuck in homes for two weeks due to the flooding.

Garbage collection resumed in Dagupan City morning on July 31, 2025 after heavy flooding prevented waste management services for two weeks in parts of Barangay Malued.

As residents began clearing out their homes, large amounts of uncollected garbage spilled onto the streets. The volume of waste tripled, according to barangay officials, due to the aftermath of the recent floods.

“Nahihirapan kami ta mabibigat pa, boss,” Liberty Cervantes, a garbage collector, said.

“Paki-segregate mga basura kasi mahirap mag-segregate,” John Rey Solomon, a fellow worker, added.

Barangay Chairperson Filipina Delos Santos appealed to residents to help ease the process.

“Hinhingi po natin sa ating kabarangay, hangga’t maaari ayusin ang basura natin. Ilagay sa sako at plastik,” she said.

The Dagupan City Waste Management Division shifted focus to flood-affected areas after prioritizing non-flooded zones in the past weeks.

“Kasi hindi rin makalabas ang mga tao. Yung mga nasa household po ang medyo nadagdagan,” Bernard Cabison, Waste Management Division Chief, said.

He reminded the public to act responsibly with their waste.

“Sana huwag itapon sa tubig ang basura. Kung hindi pa makolekta, huwag ilabas para hindi anurin ng baha,” Cabison said.