Stop garbage dumping in Vitas – NHA

The National Housing Authority has asked the City of Manila to cease its dumping of garbage in a dumpsite in Vitas, Tondo, Manila.

In a letter to Manila Mayor Jose Atienza, Jr. dated March 8, NHA General Manager Edgardo Pamintuan requested for the immediate termination of garbage dumping at an NHA-owned property in Vitas because of the environmental hazards.

Pamintuan said that the dumping should be stopped as the agreement for its use was only on a temporary basis. He noted that the use of the property as a garbage transfer station was agreed upon in August 1999.

The use of the property has been a source of controversy as early as November 1999 when the Department of Environment and Natural Resources issued a notice of violation to the transfer station.

Former DENR Secretary Antonio Cerilles called the attention of Atienza because the property was being used as an open dumpsite when it was legally allowed to be used only as a temporary transfer station.

In his letter, Pamintuan also said that the locators at the 79-hectare reclamation area known as the Manila Harbor Center (MHC) and the residents of temporary housing in the Vitas area are complaining about the foul odor.

He claimed that the operation of the dumpsite has adversely affected the marketing of unsold lots within the MHC. – Marvin Sy