NEWSFLASH

METRO MANILA GARBAGE SITE IN RODRIGUEZ, RIZAL

Manila, Sept. 7, 2001 - (STAR) By Marvin Sy - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the municipality of Rodriguez, Rizal has entered into an agreement to develop a sanitary landfill in that town.

In a press conference yesterday, MMDA Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. announced that a 100-hectare property has been allocated by the municipality of Rodriguez for the proposed landfill.

While the landfill is still being developed, the MMDA and the municipality have secured a permit from the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources to use five to 35 hectares in the proposed site in Sitio Lukutan, Barangay San Isidro, as a temporary controlled disposal facility.

The permit is contained in a letter from DENR Secretary Heherson Alvarez to Rodriguez Mayor Pedro Cuerpo dated Sept. 3.

Alvarez’s letter was in response to the request of Cuerpo for technical assistance from the DENR for the assessment of the site for purposes of controlled disposal facility.

According to Alvarez, the letter serves as a temporary environmental compliance certificate (ECC) which paves the way for the operation of the controlled dumpsite.

However, Alvarez explained that the proponents should adhere to conditions stated in his letter, most of which were similar to what is contained in the ECC.

Safety measures to prevent environmental and geological hazards were defined and a monitoring team was required to ensure that all of the conditions were followed.

The temporary facility will be used to hold Metro Manila’s residual waste along with the solid waste of the host municipality and the neighboring towns in Rizal.

Abalos said that he would immediately start the massive clean-up of garbage from the streets of Metro Manila for transport to the site.

Cuerpo stressed that the primary reason he agreed to host the site is the development plan of the municipality.

He explained that Rodriguez has been left behind in terms of development in comparison to its neighbors even when accessibility to the municipality has been improved over the past few decades.

Cuerpo blamed the operation of the Payatas dumpsite and because of the stench of garbage, Cuerpo said that visitors to his municipality have become rare. He emphasized that the Payatas dumpsite must be closed permanently and developed into an industrial area.

The MMDA was also required to establish a fenced highway along the banks of the Marikina River to provide an alternative route for the trucks going to and from the site.

Abalos was also urged to forge an agreement with quarrying firms operating in Rodriguez for the use of their trucks to haul garbage.

Cuerpo pointed out that the trucks transport aggregates from the quarry to Metro Manila on a regular basis and could be loaded with garbage after unloading its cargo. "Congestion shall be prevented since ingress of trucks shall be minimized. Besides, such a policy shall result in increased business and employment for our constituents," Cuerpo said.

Another requirement set by the mayor is the development of a portion of the site for segregation and recycling in order to prevent the spread of junkshops and recycling plants around the site.

In relation to this, a residual community would also be set up within the premises of the facility for the scavengers.

Abalos assured the residents of the area that the dumpsite would be operated under the highest environmental standards approved by the DENR.

He added that only residual wastes consisting of non-biodegradable garbage would be taken to the dumpsite.

The residual waste is said to be not more than 20 percent of the total waste generated and as such the number of trucks entering the facility would be limited and the life span of the site extended.

Abalos also noted that the sanitary landfill would be partially available in eight to nine months.

On the part of the Metro Mayors, Manila mayor Lito Atienza lauded Cuerpo as a progressive leader who boldly took on the unpopular task of hosting a dumping site.

He said that he is optimistic that the problem of garbage would finally be alleviated with the agreement on the dumpsite.

Abalos also announced that collection of garbage on the streets would be conducted for one week after which the contractors would no longer be collecting non-segregated waste.

He pointed out that the provisions of Republic Act 9003 on segregation at the source should be enforced through the help of the mayors.

Atienza assured that the mayors would exert all efforts to help ensure that segregation is enforced.

However, he admitted that there is still a lot to be done in educating households.