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FOLLOWING the complaints raised by the Metropolitan
Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the
garbage-collection contractors, Rodriguez Mayor Pedro
Cuerpo was suspended by the Rizal Provincial Government
for 60 days.
In a
two-page order signed by Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP)
board member Emigdio Tanjuatco III, the provincial board
noted that Cuerpo committed “wanton disregard for
competent authority.”
The
order, that was issued on Monday, added that Cuerpo will
be suspended “to ensure the integrity of the documents
and public records in his office.”
“It is
an offense so grave that merits his preventive
suspension from office,” the SP said in its resolution.
When
reached for comment, Cuerpo castigated those who issued
the order, saying that it is but a clear case of
“harassment.” He said the Rizal Provincial Board wants
to take over the 14-hectare garbage facility in his
town.
Despite
the suspension order, Cuerpo said he will report for
work on Tuesday.
He also
said he will file an appeal before the Palace once he
receives a copy of the order.
“The SP
believes that the preventive suspension is necessary
because the respondents’ stay could pose safety and
integrity of records, like the official receipts and
printed coupons in the possession of the municipal
treasurer, and other such evidence,” the order said.
When
Rodriguez suddenly imposed a P1,000-per-garbage-truck
fee Monday midnight, metropolitan Manila’s garbage
hauling just as suddenly halted, giving rise to another
crisis.
But on
Monday, MMDA general manager Robert Nacianceno
immediately brushed aside fears of a possible garbage
crisis, saying, “the potential impact of the new policy
on garbage discharge was not much. There will be delay
in collection during the adjustment period.”
He
confirmed the Rodriguez local government started to
implement its “pay-as-you-discharge policy
midnight of Monday and that MMDA officials do not know how long the
delay would take.”
Nacianceno said that garbage trucks refused entry will
be guided by the MMDA where to unload. He added the
trucks could still use the sanitary landfills in San
Pedro, Laguna; Clark in Pampanga; Tanza in Navotas; and
Payatas, the use of which is exclusive to Quezon City.
Another
site is the 18-hectare landfill in Doña Remedios
Trinidad, Bulacan, which has an environmental compliance
certificate.
On
Friday Cuerpo accepted the termination of the
sanitary-landfill contract it has with its contractor
and assumed full control of the operations of the
facility after 48 hours.
As this
developed, Cuerpo assured Metro Manila mayors and
residents that there will be no dispruption in the
operation of the landfill.
“It will
be business as usual because starting Monday,” Cuerpo
said, “the town will be implementing a simplified
‘pay-as-you-discharge’ prepayment scheme for all users
of the landfill.”
“This is
a fair and just system of compensation to a municipality
and its residents who are hosting the landfill and
bearing with the social, health and other adverse costs
for being the dumping ground for Metro Manila’s solid
wastes,” Cuerpo added.
In a
letter to Reynaldo S.L. Perez, president of
International Solid Waste Integrated Management Services
Inc. (International SWIMS), Cuerpo accepted what he
considered “an offer of rescission on the part of
International SWIMS by citing pertinent provisions in
the verified Complaint of Replevin with damages that the
company filed against the mayor before the Regional
Trial Court in San Mateo, Rizal.
Specifically, Cuerpo cited paragraph 8.2 of the
complaint which categorically stated that: “the
Memoradum of Agreement between International SWIMS and
the Municipal Government of Rodriguez has already been
terminated to date.”
Cuerpo
explained that “although we have not been informed of
this termination, we consider this as an offer of
rescission on the part of International SWIMS which we
accept effective upon receipt of this letter.” |
