Manila, Aug. 12 -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday thumbed down calls to impose stiffer penalties for improper waste disposal, saying the government must first ensure that people have adequate facilities where they can properly throw their garbage.

Marcos made the statement as he inspected the massive garbage buildup clogging waterways at the Diokno Pumping Station in Pasay City and the Baclaran River in Paranaque City.

Asked about proposals to impose harsher penalties on people who improperly dispose of garbage, Marcos said enforcement must be accompanied by a functional waste-management system.

Marcos cited Japan as an example of a country with a system that encourages people to properly manage their waste.

"So it's ...