Reopen dumpsites, MMDA pleads

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando is set to meet with officials and residents of San Mateo, Rizal and Carmona, Cavite for the possibility of temporarily re-opening their dumpsites.

In his first press conference yesterday, Fernando said that the two facilities could provide a medium-term solution for Metro Manila’s solid waste management problems. With only three materials recovery facilities and a small landfill in Montalban, Rizal, the MMDA needs to find more disposal areas to handle the over 6,000 tons of garbage generated by Metro Manila daily.

According to Fernando, the two dumpsites, both closed for several years, could still be used to accommodate part of Metro Manila’s garbage. The Carmona dumpsite has been closed since the middle of 1997, while the San Mateo landfill was ordered closed in 2000.

Both facilities were deemed capable of taking in garbage for three to five years more but strong resistance from residents and non-government organizations forced the government to cut short their life span.

Fernando said that he would propose solutions for both towns that would allow the MMDA to gain access to the facilities.

"Whatever was the source of the disagreements, the defects of the dumpsites, with our technical know-how, maybe we could address all these issues," Fernando said.

Fernando, who is an engineer, was responsible for the transformation of Marikina City from a semi-rural town into one of the model local government units in the country during his nine-year term as mayor.

He added that he would also talk to the residents of Antipolo City in Rizal who became instrumental in bringing about the closure of the San Mateo landfill. The Antipolo residents loudly protested the use of the facility because of the mess left by garbage trucks which passed by the town to get to the landfill.

"We know that they are also experiencing problems (with their garbage). Just in case the emotional phase has already passed, let’s try and see if there could be some kind of agreement," Fernando said.

For its long-term solution, the MMDA chairman is looking at the use of the Philippine National Railways’ tracks that go from Manila to Bicol.

Fernando said that he is looking for land in the Bicol region of some 2,000 hectares for the development of a sanitary landfill.

He explained that the large land area is needed to ensure that the residential areas in the vicinity would not be affected by the landfill. – Marvin Sy