Impeachment and garbage: Two stinking problems - ROSES AND THORNS by Alejandro R. Roces

At present, to converse means to discuss either of two things: The impeachment telenovela or the garbage problem. To talk about the impeachment case is to surmise on its two possible outcomes and their respective consequences. In short, will the decision be based on the evidence presented during the hearings or will the senator-judges vote according to their political ties? At stake is the future of our country.

The next problem literally stinks. It is where to dump Metro Manila’s rubbish. Two barges full of Metro Manila’s garbage that were on stand-by in Semirara island have reportedly gone back to Manila after the residents of Semirara vigorously protested the conversion of their idyllic island into a garbage dump.

In San Mateo, Rizal, the problem is different. President Estrada ordered the closure of the dumpsite there as part of his election promise to the voters of Rizal province. But days ago, Malacañang ordered its reopening for the next six months. The residents of San Mateo are not only protesting; they feel betrayed. Some 1,000 protesters barricaded the highway to prevent about 40 garbage trucks from getting through. Truncheon-wielding policemen had to use water cannons to disperse the protesters.

In Valenzuela City, 18,000 residents have stated that they would take protest actions if their local government continues dumping the city’s garbage in their barangay. This is because the Mayor had promised to look for another site after its supposed closure last Dec. 31. Obviously, the Mayor has not been able to find another suitable site.

In the meantime, a lot of garbage is accumulating in Metro Manila and if it cannot be disposed of, you can safely predict an epidemic. The problem is: Where do you find a dumpsite? Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Jejomar Binay is studying four possible sites. One is said to be in Quezon province, the other in Pampanga. The real question is whether the residents there will agree to convert their community into a garbage site. To begin with, sites that are converted into garbage dumps have absolutely nothing to gain and everything to lose by the conversion. Property values go down and their community becomes an unhealthy place to stay. In short, it is a major step backwards.

Health Secretary Alberto Romualdez is going to ask Congress to amend the Clean Air Act as to permit the use of incinerators. If Congress heeds his suggestion, it would mean, first, that we will have increased air pollution; second, it would contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer.

There is another problem connected with garbage that has yet to be exposed; i.e., graft and corruption. Garbage contracts run into billions and where there is money, there is graft. We will discuss this at an appropriate time.