Do street diggings at night, Abalos appeals

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. called on the water utility firms to conduct their diggings only at night because of its impact on the traffic situation.

Abalos noted that traffic has worsened in several parts of Metro Manila because of the simultaneous diggings by the water utility firms.
In a meeting with officials of the Manila Water Company Inc. and Maynilad, Abalos stressed that the diggings should be finished at the earliest possible time.

He admitted that the repair and improvement works are necessary; however, the projects should be accomplished immediately.

Abalos explained that conducting the diggings at night might help ease traffic particularly during rush hours. However, the two firms have expressed their opposition to a similar proposal during the past administration because this would delay their projects’ target dates.

During a forum with the MMDA last year, the utility firms as well as their contractors, even proposed a 24-hour window for their digging activities. The firms are rushing their rehabilitation work at this time of the year to take advantage of the good weather.

Abalos also directed the firms to immediately restore the areas where rehabilitation work is already finished.

An ordinance of the Metro Manila Council requires the water utility firms to restore the excavated areas back to their original state.

The same ordinance prescribes corresponding fines for the non-compliance of the rules and regulations.

Meanwhile, Abalos also appealed to Rizal provincial officials to do away with its plans of using open dumpsites for its garbage.

Abalos was reacting to reports that some municipalities in Rizal particularly Antipolo and San Mateo are contemplating the use of open dumpsites to cope with its present garbage situation.

With the strength of an order from the Supreme Court prohibiting the dumping of garbage at the San Mateo landfill, both Metro Manila and the province of Rizal are faced with a problem of where to dump the thousands of tons of solid waste.

The MMDA has been trying to push for the temporary use of the San Mateo landfill as an emergency measure to cope with the present garbage situation in Metro Manila.

However, the idea has been met with strong opposition from the provincial government which has cited various reasons ranging from undisciplined contractors to the threat to the health of its residents.

Abalos, in a letter to Antipolo mayor Angelito Gatlabayan, warned of the potential dangers involved in the municipality’s plan to use an open dump.

"Let us not be hypocrites. Let us not turn our backs on the reality that the people of Rizal are disposing of their garbage in the most unsanitary way. This not only threatens our whole ecological system but also Laguna Lake," Abalos said.

He explained that using the San Mateo landfill is still the better alternative because of the technology.

The San Mateo landfill has an existing environmental clearance certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources which ensures the safety of its operation.

Abalos added that the facility could still be operated as a landfill for a maximum of eight more years.