R-II may get interim Metro landfill contract

Half of the process has been accomplished in the government‘s search for an interim facility for Metro Manila’s garbage next year.

Flagship Programs and Projects Secretary Roberto Aventajado, in a radio interview yesterday claimed that all R-II DMCI has to do is fulfill the requirement needed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in order for the project to proceed.

The conclusion was arrived at after the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority along with the Greater Metro Manila Solid Waste Management Committee conducted an ocular inspection on the disposal site of R-II DMCI in Semirara, Antique last Friday.

Aventajado claimed that R-II was able to secure the necessary requirements from the local government of Antique for the project.

Specifically, Aventajado cited the original documents submitted by R-II for a permanent landfill which he said already satisfies the requirements for the interim facility.

R-II was one of the two bidders who fought for the contract for a permanent sanitary landfill site for Metro Manila.

The MMDA, on the other hand, clarified that the contract has not yet been awarded to R-II.

According to the MMDA, R-II has yet to present all of the said approvals from the local government of Antique along with the environmental clearance certificate from the DENR.

DENR-Environmental Management Bureau director Peter Anthony Abaya has raised a number of questions regarding the true nature of R-II’s project because of the conflicting reports coming from various sectors.

Some sectors have claimed that R-II would be operating a controlled dumpsite which Abaya said will not be allowed.

However, Aventajado assured them that only what was agreed upon at the start of the contract negotiations would be honored and that is using the landfill-like technology of R-II.

R-II would be dumping 2,500 tons of Metro Manila’s garbage daily at it’s mining pit in Semirara.

The mining area of R-II has an estimated size of 5,500 hectares of which only 20 to 30 hectares would actually be used.

The mining operations of R-II on the island of Semirara are primarily for the recovery of coal.

Aventajado likewise gave his assurance that Malacañang, through the Flagship office, would provide all of the necessary support for the interim facility project.