MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court en banc has junked the petition filed by Las Piñas educator John Barry Tayam, who sought to nullify Manila City Ordinance No. 9151, a measure that raised garbage disposal fees by as much as 1,200 percent. The ruling, promulgated on February 25 but made public on March 16, stated that Tayam’s case did not satisfy the requisites of judicial review and violated the doctrine of hierarchy of courts.  

The Court emphasized that Tayam had no direct and personal stake in the ordinance since he is not a resident of Manila and does not operate a business in the city. “By his own admission, petitioner is not a resident of the City of Manila,” the resolution noted, underscoring that Ordinance No. 9151 applies only to establishments and service agencies operating within Manila.  

The ordinance, passed by the Manila City Council under Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, revised garbage collection fees that had remained unchanged since 2013. Business owners in Manila had earlier protested the measure, citing the steep increase in costs, with some establishments facing hikes of more than tenfold.  

Tayam argued that the ordinance violated provisions of the Civil Code and the Local Government Code, claiming that the city council failed to conduct proper public consultations before approving the measure. However, the Supreme Court ruled that his petition was procedurally flawed and that he lacked the legal standing to challenge the ordinance.  

The ruling means that businesses in Manila will have to comply with the new fee schedule, which city officials say is necessary to sustain waste management operations and improve public services. The Department of Public Services has maintained that the increase will help ensure cleanliness and mitigate health risks caused by accumulated trash. 

While the Supreme Court’s decision closes the door on Tayam’s petition, the controversy over the garbage fee hike is expected to continue, with business groups likely to explore other avenues to contest the ordinance. For now, however, the ruling solidifies the city government’s authority to implement the fee increase, marking a significant development in Manila’s waste management policy. 

This case highlights the broader tension between local governments seeking to raise revenues for essential services and stakeholders concerned about the economic burden of such measures. The Supreme Court’s dismissal underscores the importance of legal standing and proper judicial procedure in challenging local ordinances.