Two firms to handle trash collection

Metro Manila residents may have been spared from a garbage crisis next year after Metro mayors finally chose two firms to take over the job of garbage disposal.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Jejomar Binay announced yesterday that the mayors have selected two firms to handle the collection of 3,500 tons of garbage generated daily in the metropolis.

Binay said the R-II DMCI and the Waste Action Recycling (WAR) firms were chosen as the two entities that would take over the responsibility of handling Metro Manila’s garbage when the San Mateo sanitary landfill closes down permanently at the end of this year.

The firm R-II lost its bid to host the permanent landfill site in a public bidding several months ago while WAR came forward only recently in the search for a temporary dump site.

With its recent tie-up with DMCI, R-II would be utilizing an abandoned mining pit in Semirara, Antique to handle 2,000 tons of Metro Manila’s garbage daily, Binay said.

WAR, on the other hand, has a dumping site in Mariveles, Bataan which would could accommodate 1,5000 tons of garbage.

Malacañang has given the MMDA the go-signal to enter into a contract with the winning bidders that will handle garbage collection in the National Capital Region. The Office of the President will provide the funds for the operations.

Flagship Programs and Projects Secretary Roberto Aventajado said that his office has allocated a budget of P1 billion for the interim facilities.

He explained that the local government units would not have to pay for the cost of the interim sites as Malacañang would shoulder the entire program. Both firms submitted proposals of $19 (P950) tipping fee per metric ton of garbage to be disposed in their sites.

Binay explained the criteria used in choosing the proponents was based on the ability of the firms to operate its facility by the end of the year.

The cost of the tipping fees was also considered heavily along with the proponents’ ability to handle the volume of waste committed under their bids. Both firms will operate their facilities for two years after which time a perma—nent site would already be available.

"While the contract between the two proponents is still subject to negotiations, I would like to commend the members of the Metro Mayors Council for going out of their way to attend the meetings during the past two months specifically to address this issue," Binay said.– Marvin Sy