By CHITO A. CHAVEZ
Rodriguez (formerly Montalban) Rizal Mayor Pedro Cuerpo temporarily ended his feud with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) by deciding to reopen the Montalban Sanitary Landfill Facility last Friday night, averting what could possibly be a garbage crisis in Metro Manila.
Cuerpo met with MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando at the MMDA head office in Makati City last Friday, the day when the Makati City government dumped garbage in the MMDA compound to protest the closure of the sanitary landfill in Rodriguez.
The Makati City government parked at least 20 garbage trucks loaded with trash in the MMDA compound causing a stench that reached to the upper floors of the building.
Cuerpo said he had set aside valid issues against the MMDA and allowed Metro Manila to benefit from the resumption of operations at the Montalban Sanitary Landfill.
Mayor of a small town in Rizal province, Cuerpo extended a helping hand to Metro Manila residents who are not under his political jurisdiction.
In the meeting, Cuerpo and Fernando did not discuss the
R183-million debt of the MMDA nor did they touch the issue concerning the supposed increase in tipping fees from R600 to R850 per ton for the use of the landfill. Rodriguez town had closed the garbage facility to the MMDA because of its non-payment of debts.
MMDA General Manager Robert Nacianceno heaved a sigh of relief as he negotiated with Makati City Vice-Mayor Ernesto Mercado to send the Makati City garbage trucks parked in the MMDA compound on Epifanio de los Santos Ave, Guadalupe, Makati City, to the Las Piñas landfill.
Mercado made a counter-offer and asked the MMDA to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to allow the Makati City government to deal directly with the sanitary landfill operator.
The MMDA denied the offer as Nacianceno said the MOA is against the agency’s mandate of enforcing a uniform policy on solid waste disposal.
"Beginning today, we are looking to a normal life. It will be back to a normal life," Nacianceno said in reaction to the reopening of the Rodriguez landfill.
Fernando, meanwhile, said he was relieved that reestablishing access to the landfill allayed fears of a garbage crisis in Metro Manila this Christmas season.
The MMDA said it has already prepared two checks, while a third check, collectively worth
R25 million, will soon be available for payment of the agency’s dues to the landfill operator and municipal government of Rodriguez, Rizal.
