Residents of Barangay Pantal in Dagupan City are grappling with mounting garbage woes as collections have been delayed for almost two weeks, resulting in unpleasant odors around the area.

"Minsan [kinakalat] ng mga aso, kaya problema nila… hindi pa nga naipon na," Elvera Navarro, a resident, said.

But the Barangay Council said the delay in garbage collection is caused by the strict enforcement of the "No Segregation, No Collection" policy. 

The barangay will have to collect the trash, segregate it, and transport it to the dumpsite.

Barangay officials are going around the neighborhood to remind residents of the importance of waste segregation.

The Barangay Council has set up a temporary Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) to ensure proper segregation by garbage collectors.

"Ang Pantal malaki, kaya kailangan ipapatupad namin yung segregation dito sa aming barangay. Siyempre kailangan masabihan ang tao, utos din ng kapitana namin [na] magbigay ng mga flyers sa mga establisyemento at sa mga bahay-bahay," Rey Calderon, a Barangay Councilman, said.

The Waste Management Division has convened all Barangay and SK officials to discuss the strict implementation of the "No Segregation, No Collection" policy.

They have also imposed a "No Segregation, No Entry" rule at the dumpsite.

"No segregation, no entry. Hindi namin pinapapasok ang [mga] barangay na hindi naka-segregate ang basura. Pagkatapos sa barangay, bababa kami sa household level, tututukan namin ‘yung mga bahay-bahay para mag-segregate," Bernard Cabison, Head of the Dagupan City Waste Management Division, said.