SC stops QC garbage collection fees

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday issued a temporary restraining order against the garbage collection fees imposed by the Quezon City government.

The SC third division halted the city ordinance requiring households to pay P100 to P500 in response to the petition of private citizen Jose Ferrer Jr. filed on January 17.

SC(3d D) TRO stops QC Ordinance No. SP-2235 (2013) (imposing Social Housing Tax and Garbage Fee) effective at once until further orders.

— SC PIO (Official) (@SCPh_PIO) February 6, 2014

The high court also ordered a halt on socialized housing taxes imposed by  the local government.

Quezon City government had said that the amount is based on the area occupied by each house.

The city also imposed P25 to P200 from condominium units and social housing units.

Ferrer argued that garbage collection is a basic service of local government agencies and must  be done for free.

The fees can instead be taken from business taxes, international revenue allotment and property taxes, Ferrer said in the petition.