Navotas residents protest new landfill

Residents of Navotas are up in arms against a proposed landfill in their town, urging the Metro Manila Development Authority and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to recall the permit given by the municipal government to the Philippine Ecology Systems Corp. (PHILECO) to operate the disposal facility.

The Koalisyon ng Mamamayan sa Navotas Laban sa Basura sa Tanza and Kontra Basura sa Tanza charged that Mayor Toby Tiangco signed on Jan. 15, 2002 the resolution sanctioning the setting up of a 10-hectare landfill in Barangay Tanza without comprehensive public consultation and thorough assessment.

"The landfill project is a major disaster in the offing for the people of Navotas. What happened in Payatas, Quezon City last 2000 or recently in Sapang Palay in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan could happen in Navotas once the landfill project gets operational by the second quarter of this year," the groups said.

Based on the two-page resolution obtained by the groups, garbage contractor PHILECO will establish the disposal facility in salty fishponds in the northernmost portion of Barangay Tanza, a stone’s throw away from Manila Bay.

The volume of garbage to be dumped daily will be 2 million tons, collected from the whole National Capital Region. Operations begin at Pier 18 in Vitas, Tondo, Manila, its marine loading station, where garbage from Metro Manila will be dumped from barges then transported to Barangay Tanza by land.

"The fisher people and the urban poor of Navotas want jobs and decent living, not mountains of thrash. We cannot allow the people to be exposed to dangers of toxic contamination and avalanche risks," the groups said.

No less than 30,000 residents stand to be affected by the looming landfill in Navotas where livelihood includes fishing, selling mussels and oysters, and bagoong-making. Navotas is among the major suppliers of mussels in Metro Manila.

The groups warned that the fishing and mussel industry might be greatly affected due to the possible breakout of red tide with the presence of garbage.

The groups, at the same time, accused Tiangco of gaining P50 million from granting the right to operate the landfill project of PHILECO.

"If it wants to save lives, homes, and livelihood the landfill project should be scrapped. The garbage disposal facility does not have the approval of the people. The Navotas politicians and their cohorts who are out to make a fortune from this anti-people program are the only ones pushing this garbage project to the hilt," said Romy Hidalgo, convenor of Kontra Basura.

In fact, Noli Madeja, also a convenor of Kontra Basura sa Tanza, said 14 barangays of Navotas are opposed to the dumpsite project of the municipal government, and are planning to present their petition against the landfill to the DENR, DILG, and MMDA.

They are currently gathering the signatures of residents to prove that the people of Navotas do not support the project.

Among the 14 barangays opposing the landfill project in Navotas were Barangays Tanza, Tangos, San Roque, Bankulasi, North Bay Boulevard-North and South, Daang Hari, San Jose, and Sipac.