MMDA warns of looming garbage crisis due to budget cut

MANILA, Philippines –  The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has warned of a possible garbage collection problem for the metropolis in the next five months unless moves are made to boost its slashed 2011 budget.

The MMDA is virtually cash-strapped after Congress slashed the agency’s budget for this year by 52 percent, from last year’s P2.076 billion to just P981 million. The MMDA had originally requested for a P1.5 billion budget for this year.

MMDA spokesperson Christina Velasco said the agency’s budget for garbage collection and disposal is just enough to cover “service fees” for the next five months, but “we are hopeful” the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will come to the MMDA’s rescue.

Velasco earlier said the MMDA needs at least P1.6 billion per year just to pay for the services of private waste disposal facilities that handle the disposal of garbage collected from Metro Manila.

She said the DBM released only P850 million in 2010 for the agency’s solid waste disposal program and approved only P518 million for this year.