Janine Gutierrez Speaks Up on Growing Waste Problem in the Philippines
JANINE GUTIERREZ – Actress Janine Gutierrez is making waves online after speaking out about the country’s worsening waste management situation.
Actress Janine Gutierrez has once again used her platform to spotlight pressing environmental concerns, this time urging authorities to prioritize improving waste management systems across the Philippines.
On Friday, May 1, Gutierrez took to Instagram Stories to share her thoughts, emphasizing the urgent need for government intervention. Her post featured a report from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau in Central Visayas, which recently allowed the partial lifting of a cease-and-desist order on a landfill operator in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City. The same site was previously involved in a tragic trash slide incident in January that claimed the lives of at least 35 workers.
Reacting to the situation, Gutierrez did not hold back in calling attention to the broader issue. “Something has to be done about waste management in the Philippines. Our landfills are a huge health risk—burning and landslides. Not to mention how we’re one of the top plastic polluters in the world,” Gutierrez said.
She also pointed out that the country can learn from nations that have already implemented effective waste solutions. “There are so many examples we can look into, countries like Singapore, Switzerland, South Korea, when it comes to recycling, waste-to-energy and more,” she stated. “Government, please act on this.”
Her appeal comes in the wake of another alarming incident—the recent fire at the Navotas Sanitary Landfill in April. The blaze produced thick smog that significantly affected air quality in nearby areas, including Navotas, Valenzuela, Malabon, Caloocan, Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Makati, and Manila.
Environmental advocates have since raised concerns about the harmful effects of pollutants released from burning waste, warning that these could seep into nearby water sources and pose further risks to public health.
With multiple incidents highlighting the dangers tied to poor waste handling, Gutierrez’s call underscores a growing demand for sustainable and safer waste management solutions in the country.
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