Metro folks may have to pay for trash disposal

Residents of Metro Manila will soon have to pay for collection of their garbage once the operation of the sanitary landfill is turned over to the private sector.

This was admitted yesterday by Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) assistant general manager Rogelio Uranzaduring a press conference.

The bidding for the new landfill is being hastened due to the upcoming closure of the San Mateo, Rizal landfill. San Mateo, which services almost all of the garbage in Metro Manila, will be permanently closed at the end of the year.

Uranza explained that the privatization of landfill operations takes the issue away from the MMDA.

He said that the winning bidder will have the authority to charge the residents for collection of their garbage, as practiced in most of the developed countries in the West. "The totally privatized garbage collection and disposal could require house owners to pay for the service, like other utilities and services rendered by private businesses," Uranza said.

Uranza disclosed that the new landfill project will be developed under the build-operate-own scheme which effectively gives full control of the project to the winning bidder.

He added that inspite of the privatization, the MMDA will retain its supervisory and monitoring functions "to ensure the landfill will remain efficient, sanitary and adhere to relevant rules and laws."

Bidding for the new landfill is slated this April for the winning bidder to have enough time to develop the site for use before the end of the year.

Under the scheme, the operator will be given up to Jan. 1, 2001 to develop the landfill. This takes into consideration the fulfillment of all the requirements needed for its operation, such as an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. --