GMA told: Junk Jancom deal

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando, in behalf of Metro Manila’s local chief executives, is now asking President Arroyo to junk the government’s multi-billion peso deal with a French firm for garbage collection and disposal.

Fernando said the Metro Mayor’s Council (MMC) has decided to bring the case of Jancom Environmental Corp. to Malacañang to finally settle the issue.

He said Metro Manila’s local chief executives approved in principle a resolution urging Mrs. Arroyo to scrap the deal with Jancom in a recent meeting.

"The resolution is to reiterate our position and ask the President to reject the Jancom contract," Fernando told newsmen in an interview.

He noted that Jancom is trying to push for an amended contract but the same still creates problems for the MMDA and for Metro Manila.

Fernando said the private firm cannot do the job and is even asking a very expensive fee for garbage collection.

Furthermore, he said Jancom’s idea of using incinerators to dispose garbage has already been overtaken by a law which bars the burning of thrash using extreme temperature. — Michael Punongbayan