Honor garbage contract, Pasig court tells MMDA

The Pasig City Trial Court ordered the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday to have the controversial Jancom garbage contract implemented.

Judge Santiago Estrella of the RTC Branch 68 ordered MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando to submit to President Arroyo the amended agreement for the approval of the contract and its implementation.

It may be recalled that six years ago, Jancom entered the bidding for the construction of a waste disposal facility for Metro Manila’s garbage. However, when Jancom won the contract for an incinerator, it was not implemented since it did not comply with the Clean Air Act.

Jancom had planned to put up the facility in San Mateo, Rizal.

To have their contract executed by the government, the MMDA and Jancom entered into an amended agreement, downgrading their facility into a sanitary landfill.

It may also be noted that on Jan. 31, 2002, the Supreme Court, in a resolution, stated that the garbage contract was"valid and perfected," and should be honored by the government.

In a six-page writ of execution, Estrella reminded the MMDA of an earlier lower court decision not to entertain any proponents that would host the garbage of Metro Manila by declaring null and void any contract after Aug. 14, 2000.

When Fernando, was appointed to head the agency June 14, 2002, he refused to implement the contract saying it was "too expensive" for the government.