Monday, June 02, 2008 Alternative dumpsites ready for metro garbage
THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) last Sunday said it has alternative dumpsites ready to take Metro Manila's garbage despite the agency being granted a three-months extension for the temporary use of the 19-hectare provincial landfill in the municipality of Rodriguez, Rizal.
MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando said alternative dumpsites are prepared to take in garbage although Rizal governor Casimiro "Junjun" Ynares III have allowed the continued use of the province sanitary landfill.
Aside from the Rodriguez landfill, which accommodates about 8,000 metric tons of wastes daily, the agency is also using a secondary landfill in Tanza, Navotas and in San Pedro, Laguna which is being utilized by Parañaque City and Makati and San Juan during a similar crisis last year while plans are afoot to use another facility at Clark in Pampanga.
Quezon City is the sole user of the Payatas dumpsite.
Fernando likewise dismissed criticism that the agency is not doing enough to solve the metropolis' garbage woes, adding that they had not been remiss in their duties even as he reminded residents to strictly observe rules and regulation on garbage disposal.
He also appealed for greater cooperation among local government units (LGUs) in educating their constituents on the issue.
Last week, Ynares granted the MMDA a temporary permit to use the province sanitary landfill for the garbage disposal needs of Metro Manila.
The three-month temporary permit was granted May 26 and would be in effect until a decision has been reached by the Provincial Board on the MMDA request for an extension of the six-month permit granted to the agency last November.
The permit expires last May 6 and Fernando has requested Ynares to allow the continued use of the facility.
Ynares said the grant of the MMDA's request will depend on the results of the deliberation of the Provincial Board.
In the meantime, the governor said they would provide the MMDA with temporary assistance to its garbage disposal requirements.
The 19-hectare Rizal Provincial Sanitary Landfill, a facility owned by the private entity International Swims Inc., was opened in November 2007 to serve the requirements of the clustered and bigger municipalities of the province.
The MMDA has been embroiled in a legal tussle with the Rodriguez municipal government headed by Mayor Pedro Cuerpo over the use of the landfill.
In December 2001, former MMDA chairman Benjamin Abalos entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Rodriguez municipality for the use of the 14-hectare Montalban landfill.
Under the agreement, the MMDA shall pay P42.86 per cubic meter of Metro Manila's solid waste that it will deliver and dump at the landfill.
After several extensions of the agreement, which expired last year, the landfill became used up and was deemed closed for dumping purposes.
Consequently, Fernando formally requested Governor Ynares to allow the MMDA to use the 19-hectare provincial landfill for at least six months.
Ynares acceded to the request on the strength of a Provincial Council resolution.
But the Rizal provincial and Rodriguez municipal governments presented conflicting claims and demanded separate payments from the MMDA for the use of the provincial landfill. (AH/Sunnex)
