Thursday, May 22, 2008 Extension for use of Rodriguez landfill sought anew
THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and its accredited group of garbage haulers on Wednesday reiterated its demand for a reprieve from the Rizal Provincial Government for the use of Rodriguez landfill.
The move was taken following receipt of a letter by MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando and the Solid Waste Accredited Contractors Association of the Philippines (Swacap), the agency's accredited garbage haulers, from Rizal Governor Casimiro Ynares III advising them that the 19-hectare landfill could not host anymore Metro Manila's garbage. A big chunk of Metro Manila's 8,000 metric tons (MTs) of garbage is being dumped at the dumpsite.
During a meeting between provincial officials and representatives from the MMDA and Swacap at the Rizal Provincial Capitol, the group sought an indefinite extension for the use of the landfill until the MMDA has found a new facility following the lapse of the previous six-month extension it had secured from Rizal last year.
The landfill was originally intended for the use of Rizal's local government units (LGUs). The Rizal Provincial Government had accommodated Metro Manila's garbage out of goodwill, according to MMDA general manager Robert Nacianceno and Swacap officials.
Also during the meeting, Swacap complained anew to the Provincial Government for the alleged continued exaction of fees by still unidentified persons from the haulers.
They alleged that a handful of men claiming to be barangay officials have been exacting fees from the haulers for the use of washing bay upon entering and exiting from the landfill without issuing a receipt in return.
Rodriguez Mayor Pedro Cuerpo and Ynares are at loggerheads as to who should collect payment from the MMDA.
The MMDA is awaiting the outcome of a pending interpleader case it had filed before the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) as to whether the Provincial Government or the Rodriguez Municipal Government is the rightful owner of the town's other 14-hectare landfill.
It had maintained that the Municipal Government should first prove before the court that it is the owner of the said landfill before it pays up for hosting Metro Manila's garbage.
Cuerpo had reportedly threatened to stop the dumping of garbage in his municipality if the MMDA ignores the town council demand for payment.
Earlier, Nacianceno asked for a six months extension of the contract to dump garbage in the province earlier this month after the contract expired last May 6.
"We have asked Governor Ynares for another extension. We are in constant communication with the governor and I think he is very reasonable and knows our concern well," Nacianceno said.
He likewise assured Metro Manila residents that there will be no garbage crisis saying the agency has alternative dumpsites in a worst-case scenario.
Among the alternative sites he said were the Tanza landfill in Navotas; Dona Remedios, Trinidad, Bulacan; San Pedro, Laguna; and even as far as Clark in Pampanga. (AH/Sunnex)
