Sunday, February 04, 2007
Agency mulls putting up dumpsite for metro folks
AFTER the recent row between the Rodriguez Municipal Government and the Rizal Provincial Government over the operation of the Montalban Sanitary Landfill, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is keen on developing its own sanitary landfill with offers from private individuals to turn their properties into garbage facilities.
MMDA Solid Waste Management Office Director Elsie Encarnacion said the agency is looking at various proposals floated by several sectors to build a landfill for the use of residents of the metropolis.
"There are three to four offers coming from private individuals for us to use their lands as a garbage facility. But these are all subject to evaluation of our committee," said Encarnacion.
She said there were also offers coming from private garbage contractors to find a suitable place for such a facility. "These landfills are outside Metro Manila since there is no place here big enough to accommodate thousands of tons of garbage generated by residents," she said.
The MMDA used to operate its own sanitary landfill, the 73-hectare San Mateo Sanitary Landfill. However, it was closed down after residents and cause-oriented groups raised the issue citing environmental concerns.
Encarnacion said they are looking at sites that can be used to build a 30- to 40-hectare facility to be able to accommodate the 7,000 to 8,000 metric tons of garbage generated daily in the metropolis.
Authorities said only about 85 percent of the garbage were properly collected and disposed off while the rest ends up in the waterways clogging the already overstretched drainage system especially during the rainy season. The MMDA spends roughly P1.1 billion for its solid waste management with a large portion of the amount going to the payment of tipping fees for garbage contractors.
At present, there are three privately owned sanitary landfill for Metro Manila garbage that are being supervised by the MMDA. These are located in Montalban, Navotas and Pampanga.
The National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) placed the cost of operating a 15-hectare landfill at P7 to P15 million. For sites capable of holding 200 tons of refuse or more the commission estimated the cost at P225 million or more.
The MMDA's effort to operate its own landfill was apparently brought by the latest problem between the Rodriguez Municipal Government and the Rizal Provincial Government after Mayor Pedro Cuerpo ordered the closure of the facility due to a disagreement in the operation with the Provincial Government headed by Governor Casimiro Ynares. (AH/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (February 4, 2007 issue)
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