By Julianne Samantha Abinuman, Gelyn Azores, and Janna Claire Millano

On one of Barangay Bitano’s busiest corners along the Alternate Road, the reeking smell of rotting garbage from the barangay’s Material Recovery Facility (MRF) competes with nearby food establishments, driving potential customers away before they even reach the counter.

Located along the highway and surrounded by malls and restaurants, the MRF where waste is sorted and processed before disposal is hard to miss for diners and people passing through the area.

Just steps away, a food establishment that opened in 2022 now struggles to keep customers coming in. Austin Martinez, one of its employees, has witnessed the restaurant’s customer base steadily decline.

The restaurant used to have many customers, but the number has noticeably dropped in recent years — not because of the quality of food or service, but because of what is decomposing just outside their door.

Martinez said the smell and sight of the trash have driven away customers, making it harder for the restaurant to attract diners, especially with strong competition from other nearby food establishments.

“We wouldn’t eat here either,” Martinez admitted, describing how even employees are hesitant to dine in their own establishment.

Staff have adjusted their routines, running fans to help reduce the odor indoors, yet the persistent stench and piles of trash remain a constant challenge for attracting and keeping customers.

Joseph Bantigui, barangay kagawad and chair of the Committee on Environment of Bitano said that the foul odor coming from the barangay’s garbage site is primarily caused by kitchen waste that is left for too long, especially when mixed with other biodegradable scraps. 

He explained that the MRF serves as a temporary holding and sorting area for waste collected from households before it is hauled to the city’s disposal facility, as the barangay has no other designated space for waste management.

According to Bantigui, while the barangay strictly enforces the “No Segregation, No Collection” policy, some residents still dispose of garbage improperly, resulting in overflowing piles or garbage that remain until collected.

Bantigui acknowledged the concerns, saying, “We cannot completely avoid this, but we admit many people complain. There are some who simply do not care about the environment.”

Dolores Malagueño, an environmental management specialist II of the Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources, stated that they are taking actions regarding this. 

Initial actions agreed upon by the city and barangay include area disinfection, clean-up operations, and identifying possible alternative sites for the MRF. 

Malagueño added that they are currently in the process of amending the ordinance that will impose a more strict implementation including the people in the barangay, the eco aids, and even the barangay workers.

Furthermore, the LGU plans to require major establishments to secure a Permit to Dump. This would allow them to transport waste directly to the city’s disposal facility, bypassing the barangay, which struggles to manage large volumes daily.

The city is also considering requiring large commercial establishments to transport their waste directly to the city’s sanitary landfill, bypassing the barangay’s MRF, to reduce the volume of garbage handled at the barangay level.

She added that surprise inspections, ticketing of violators, and training of barangay enforcers are also being discussed to strengthen monitoring and compliance, as current sanctions are still under review. 

Until stricter penalties are enforced, Malagueño said, some residents and establishments remain complacent in following waste management rules.

For businesses operating near the MRF, the issue goes beyond sanitation policies and cleanup schedules. The persistent smell, visible piles of waste, and recurring flooding have become part of the daily environment, shaping how customers decide where to eat and whether to stay at all. 

As long as garbage continues to accumulate along one of Barangay Bitano’s busiest areas, food establishments nearby remain directly exposed to the effects—where the condition of the surroundings can matter as much as the food being served.