Metro dumping waste in Rizal landfill

MANILA, Philippines — Twelve cities and a town in Metro Manila have been dumping waste at the privately owned sanitary landfill in Rizal, which collapsed on Feb. 20, lawmakers said yesterday.

Along with Pateros town, the cities of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, San Juan, Taguig and Valenzuela had been unloading garbage at the landfill in Rodriguez.

Records showed that Green Leaf Solid Waste Management Inc., the landfill’s operator, was previously involved in alleged labor violations and exploitation of workers.

During the 19th Congress, the Senate ordered a probe into the company’s “unscrupulous practice of engaging in the services of garbage collectors by circumventing laws.”

In a resolution yesterday, the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives said the landfill collapse “not only endangered the lives of waste collectors and residents in the area, but also constituted grave environmental damage and health hazard.”

Resolution 815 urges the House natural resources and labor and employment panels to probe the incident.

Media access is “restricted” and private armies and security guards have been “deployed” to suppress information about the incident, lawmakers said.

No official record has been released, but the lawmakers said, “At least 50 people have gone missing.”

Makabayan lawmakers are Reps. Antonio Tinio, Renee Co and Sarah Jane Elago of party-list groups Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Kabataan and Gabriela, respectively.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources halted the landfill’s operation, covering Phase 5 or six hectares of the dump. Public entry has been prohibited. –  Josiah Antonio