|
Monday, June 30, 2008
MMDA unfazed by Makati's threat to file rap
MANILA -- THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Sunday dismissed the threat of the Makati City Government to sue them over a garbage row that resulted in the "abandonment" of 40 dump trucks carrying garbage in front of the MMDA central office at Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) in the city.
MMDA general manager Robert Nacianceno said the agency welcomes any charges that may be filed against them even as he reiterated their position that despite the temporary closure of the 19-hectare Montalban landfill in the town of Rodriguez in Rizal Province, there was no garbage crisis at all in Metro Manila.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
"We cannot stop them from suing us," Nacianceno said.
Makati City recently "dumped" its garbage in front of the MMDA main office saying the MMDA failed to do its job despite the clear mandate provided by its Charter and the financial contribution of Metro Manila's LGUs.
Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay admitted that it was their decision to park the garbage trucks in front of the MMDA main office because they had nowhere else to go after the Rizal Provincial Government barred the dumping of garbage at the landfill.
Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado said Makati, like other LGUs, remits five percent of its annual income to the MMDA to find a permanent dumpsite for its trash so the least the agency could do is do their job.
"We pay our contributions to the MMDA. They should provide a suitable place for us and other LGUs to dispose of their trash since it is part of their mandate as provided for under the MMDA Charter," Mercado said.
Makati remitted P224 million to the agency last year.
The vice mayor blamed Fernando for the closure of the Montalban landfill, saying the agency could not settle the P84 million worth of unpaid fees it owed to landfill operators despite having the funds for it.
But while MMDA readies itself for possible charges from the city, Nacianceno said the MMDA Legal Department headed by Emmanuel de Castro is also studying the filing of charges against the garbage contractor of Makati.
He said the contractor can be cited for obstruction as the garbage trucks blocked literally the roads in and out of the MMDA main office located at the corner of Edsa and Orense Street in Barangay Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati City.
Agency employees and other nearby business establishments near the MMDA central office complained of the foul odor.
The MMDA official said he could not see the logic behind the alleged order of the Makati mayor to bring all the trucks full of garbage to the agency's headquarters.
Nacianceno said the MMDA will only release the dump trucks to their owners once they were able to present documents that the vehicles are registered as public utility vehicles.
The garbage trucks drivers claimed that they were ordered by the contractor of Makati to park their trucks in front of the MMDA main office following the order of Rizal Governor Casimiro Ynares III to close the Montalban landfill.
Ynares ordered the closure of the dumpsite after the 45-day temporary permit issued to the MMDA for the use of the facility expired.
He however rescinded the order last June 27 and gave the MMDA 15 days to use the facility while the Provincial Board (PB) is deliberating on the matter.
The governor added that he will work for the passage of the resolution on Monday when the PB will again tackle the issue.
The temporary permit was issued to the MMDA last May 6 upon the agency's request to meet the garbage disposal needs of the metropolis.
The Montalban landfill, a facility owned by the private entity International Swims, Incorporated, was opened in November last year to serve the requirements of the clustered and bigger municipalities of Rizal.
It can accommodate about 4,000 metric tons of wastes of the 8,000 tons generated by Metro Manila on a daily basis. (AH/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pampanga. (June 30, 2008 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Electric firm sticks to no-ransom policy