MANILA — Leonel Waste Management Corporation, the contractor responsible for waste collection in Manila, has denied accusations from the city government that it abandoned its duties during the holiday season, attributing the uncollected trash to unpaid dues owed by the local government.

The company insists it continued to fulfill its obligations until the end of its contract on December 31, 2024, despite the mounting debt. Leonel Waste Management has been the city’s waste collector since 1993.

Accusations of Neglect During Holidays

In a statement issued on Monday, the waste management firm rejected the allegations made by Manila City Mayor Honey Lacuna, who accused the company of failing to collect garbage during the peak holiday season. Lacuna pointed to a 400-percent surge in waste volume during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, with residents complaining about piles of uncollected trash on the streets.

Leonel Waste Management clarified that its service was maintained throughout the holiday season, including on December 23, 2024, when employees were notified that the company’s contract would end on December 31, 2024.

Despite this, the company mandated its staff to continue regular garbage collection services to ensure proper waste management during the holiday surge.

Ongoing Dispute Over Unpaid Dues

A central issue raised by Leonel Waste Management is the city’s outstanding debt to the company. According to the waste contractor, Manila still owes PHP561,440,000 in unpaid dues. Leonel emphasized that this financial dispute was one of the reasons it decided not to participate in the 2025 contract bidding.

In September 2024, Leonel met with Manila City Mayor Honey Lacuna to inform her that the company would no longer engage in the next contract bidding process, due to the city’s mounting unpaid obligations.

The End of Leonel’s Contract and Transition to New Providers

The dispute concluded with the expiration of Leonel’s contract on December 31, 2024. The Manila city government has since awarded two new garbage collection contracts for 2025, totaling PHP842.7 million.

The contract for garbage collection in Districts 4 and 5, valued at PHP429,786,061.68, was awarded to Phil. Ecology Systems Corp., while MetroWaste Solid Waste Management Corp. secured the contract for Districts 1, 2, and 3, amounting to PHP412,931,706.32.

📷 Manila PIO