Metro garbage problem returns

A few days after Rodriguez, Rizal Mayor Pedro Cuerpo returned to work following his suspension, he threatened anew to ban Metro Manila’s garbage trucks from the town’s landfills unless the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) pays them for hosting the trash.

“We will give the MMDA enough time,” he said yesterday, adding that he will sit down with the municipal council today to plan their next course of action to compel the MMDA to pay up.

The town mayor did not give any deadline for the MMDA’s payment.

Cuerpo was suspended by the Rizal provincial government since last Feb. 18 for ignoring a resolution calling for a stop on the collection of fees from garbage haulers. He forcibly entered and holed up at his office last March 24 to protest over his suspension.

But last Friday, Cuerpo returned to his post after getting a reprieve from Malacañang, which ordered a stay in his suspension pending a review of his appeal.

The Rodriguez municipal government and the Rizal provincial government are fighting over which should collect payment from the MMDA, which has filed a case before a Makati court to resolve the conflict.

In an interview, Cuerpo said it is unfair for his municipality to be deprived of payment from the MMDA. He explained that for years, Rodriguez has been religiously receiving payment from the MMDA until the Rizal provincial government made a claim on it.

Cuerpo said he has no recourse but to order anew the stop the dumping of garbage in his municipality if the MMDA ignores the town council’s demand for payment.

At the height of his suspension, Cuerpo and his supporters barricaded the landfill to prevent garbage haulers from dumping trash. But the problem was resolved after the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) intervened.

Earlier, Cuerpo said he needed the MMDA payment to fund the municipal government’s development projects.

Meanwhile, on his first working day in office, Cuerpo said he will order the reinstatement of 1,433 employees fired from their respective jobs by Vice Mayor Jonas Cruz.

“They were with me for six years. I don’t know why they were sacked by my vice mayor,” said Cuerpo, adding that the dismissed employees can collect their back wages through the proper government agency.

With him back at the helm of the municipal hall, Cuerpo expects the day-to-day operation of the municipal government to go back to normal.