Dump trucks secretly disposing of Metro garbage in Pampanga

MABALACAT, Pampanga — Still in a quandary on where to dump Metro Manila’s garbage, truckers seem to be finding extra income by surreptitiously disposing of the metropolis’ wastes in lahar areas here.

This town’s mayor, Marino Morales, ordered his men yesterday to inspect all dump trucks which arrive here by the hundreds daily, purportedly to haul lahar sand and transport it to Metro Manila.

The trucks, however, have been reportedly unloading garbage here at dawn or late at night.

"There have been reports that the trucks are loaded with Metro Manila’s wastes which they dump in lahar areas before they haul lahar sand," Morales said.

Three months ago, several trucks were found to be dumping toxic wastes from Metro Manila hospitals in Barangay Mangalit here.

Residents of Barangays Dolores and Calumpang complained to Morales that dump trucks have disposed of tons of construction, restaurant, household and office wastes in their communities, located near the Sacobia River.

Dump trucks haul lahar sand from the river. Lahar sand has been in demand for the construction of high-rise buildings and other structures in Metro Manila.

It is estimated that some 2,600 trucks, mostly from Metro Manila, haul lahar sand from various parts of Pampanga, but mostly in Porac, Bacolor and this town.

Morales said he has ordered his personnel to ensure that trucks hauling lahar sand are empty when they enter the town.

Earlier, President Arroyo declared Metro Manila under a state of calamity due to its serious garbage problem. The move enables local government units in the metropolis to use their emergency funds to cope with the crisis.

Bataan Gov. Leonardo Roman has rejected a proposal for a dumpsite for Metro Manila’s wastes in his province.

During the former Estrada administration, then Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Antonio Cerilles identified a huge area between Mariveles and Morong towns in Bataan as a possible landfill site for Metro Manila’s waste.

At Clark Field, Clark Development Corp. (CDC) president Emmanuel Angeles said a proposed 100-hectare landfill in Barangay Kalangitan in Capas, Tarlac will be able to accommodate part of Metro Manila’s garbage.

Militant groups, however, have opposed the project, which the CDC board has approved and which a German consortium will implement. — With Ric Sapnu