'Economic growth means more garbage'

Something else grows with a thriving economy -- garbage.

Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Felipe Medalla said yesterday there is a setback to economic growth and that is a worseing garbage problem.

Medalla assured the people, however, that as the country posted 3.6-percent growth in gross national product last year, the Estrada administration has made the Metro Manila Solid Waste Management program one of three top priority foreign-funded "flagship" projects.

The two other flagship projects are the $1.4-billion San Roque Multi-Purpose Dam in Benguet and the P760-million Mal-Mar Irrigation Project in Cotabato.

Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Jejomar Binay said the metropolis will face a garbage crisis if the government fails to come up with an alternative dumpsite after the San Mateo landfill is closed.

Binay and Medalla, along with Presidential Flagship Projects Chairman Robert Aventajado were guests in yesterday's edition of the President's weekly radio program "Jeep ni Erap."

Binay said Mr. Estrada created the Greater Metro Manila Solid Waste Management Committee to prevent a garbage crisis.

Aventajado revealed that he scouted for "state-of-the-art" garbage disposal technology during his trips to Germany, France, Australia and Austria.

He noted the people and government of Australia are implementing a waste reduction scheme meant to bring down their garbage output by 60 percent over the next 10 years through recycling and composting methods.

Aventajado also said the Estrada administration will hold a public bidding for the alternative sanitary landfill.

"So far, there are five serious bids, one of which comes from Bulacan, as possible host of this controversial new landfill site for Metro Manila and surrounding environs," he said.