PEC nixes government renegotiation

One of the companies that won a waste management deal has belied renegotiation with the government, dismissing as unfounded the warning of various militant environmental groups against it.

The Pro-Environment Consortium (PEC), in a letter to The STAR, said it has fully complied with all the terms of reference and that the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board and the ICC Cabinet Level last year have approved its build-operate-own (BOO) award. PEC won the award for the Metropolitan Manila Solid Waste Management Project.

"(Our) bid is not being renegotiated as there is nothing to renegotiate. Further, our contract is not controversial, as it has gone through legal means and very transparent in the bidding process," PEC said.

At the same time, PEC denied any connection with the Jancom Environment Corp. (Jancom), saying its BOO contract "is distinct and separate" from Jancom’s San Mateo Waste to Energy build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract. PEC said that with its proposed tipping fee of $18.89 in 2000, its BOO contract calls for the acceptance of 2,000 tons of municipal solid waste daily in at least two transfer stations, and the transport, disposal of residual waste in the sanitary landfill. The PEC said its proposal includes the segregation, recovery and recycling of the municipal solid waste that could not be processed through efforts at the barangay level and waste generators.

Jancom’s contract, PEC pointed out, was awarded and executed in 1997 despite rejection by the NEDA-ICC during the Ramos, Estrada and Arroyo administrations. A recent Supreme Court ruling, however, upheld the validity of the Jancom contract with the government and prohibited the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) from implementing the PEC contract. Also, the PEC denied that their project has something to do with the acceptance, processing and disposal of toxic and hazardous waste.

"Our consortium members rather than complain about our garbage problems decided to take a pro-active stand and participate in the solicited tender process by the government so we may be able to make contribution toward the betterment of our country," PEC said.

But the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) through information officer Gerry Altert-Corpuz said they are even asking the government to nullify the contracts of Jancom and PEC, insisting that their respective projects pose great danger to the people’s health.

"This is not about going through or complying with all the legal processes. This is about moral, environmental, and health issues," said Corpuz in a telephone interview.

Earlier, Pamalakaya, along with Kalikasan-People’s Network for Environment (Kalikasan-PNE), and Concerned Citizens Against Pollution (COCAP) cautioned the government to rule out moves to renegotiate the controversial garbage management deals with Jancom and PEC. – Katherine Adraneda