By Kenneth Marcos 
Before sunrise, trucks and tricycles pass along Sangandaan Road, a busy boundary between Malabon and Caloocan. But instead of a clean roadside, piles of mixed garbage sometimes greet residents. The smell lingers. Floodwater worsens when drains are clogged. For families living nearby, the problem is not new.
On Monday, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Metropolitan Environmental Office–North led a coordination meeting to address ongoing solid waste management issues along Sangandaan Road, which serves as the boundary of Malabon and Caloocan City.
The meeting was held at the DENR MEO–North office and gathered key local officials and environmental officers. Representatives from the City Environmental Management Department of Caloocan, led by Paul Ryan Castillo, and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office of Malabon, led by Mark Lloyd Mesina, attended. Also present was Anabelle A. Wahing, head of the Solid Waste Management Section of the Environmental Management Bureau–NCR.
Barangay officials from Barangays 4 and 8 of Caloocan and Barangay Tugatog of Malabon joined the discussion. Members of the media were also present to help inform the public.
During the presentation, MEO–North OIC Director Glenn Alvin Gustilo identified specific areas along the boundary where illegal dumping frequently occurs. He presented actions already taken since 2025, including cleanup drives, community education efforts known as “Dalaw Turo,” and earlier coordination meetings.
Officials acknowledged that the boundary location makes enforcement challenging. Residents from different jurisdictions pass through the area daily. Without strong coordination, illegal dumping can continue despite local ordinances and national laws such as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which requires proper waste segregation and prohibits open dumping.
Local government representatives agreed that stronger cooperation and stricter enforcement are needed. Barangay officials committed to increasing the deployment of barangay tanods and other personnel to monitor the area, especially during critical hours when illegal dumping is more likely to happen.
CENRO Malabon and CEMD Caloocan also pledged to improve coordination and maintain open communication lines to ensure that agreed measures are implemented properly. The DENR MEO–North, for its part, will continue providing technical support and deploy Estero Rangers to help monitor waterways and prevent waste from clogging drainage systems.
Solid waste remains a major concern in Metro Manila. With a dense population and high daily waste generation, proper disposal and segregation are critical to prevent flooding, health risks, and environmental damage. When garbage blocks canals and esteros, heavy rains can quickly lead to flooding in low-lying communities like Malabon.
Officials emphasized that government action alone is not enough. Residents, businesses, and transport operators must also follow waste rules. Simple practices such as segregating trash, using proper collection schedules, and avoiding illegal dumping can make a big difference.
At the end of the meeting, MEO–North reiterated that sustained inter-agency coordination and community cooperation are key to finding long-term solutions to solid waste problems in Metro Manila. Clean streets and waterways are not only about compliance. They are about public health, safety, and dignity for every family living in the area.
As the agencies move forward with their commitments, residents hope that Sangandaan Road will soon reflect not piles of trash, but a stronger sense of shared responsibility.
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