Rizal gov’t washes fingers of Rodriguez landfill incident

Rodriguez Mayor Ronnie Evangelista says the city has ‘restricted scope of authority’ over the landfill

MANILA, Philippines – Following one other landfill incident this time within the Rizal Provincial Sanitary Landfill, the primary response of the Rizal provincial authorities was to make clear that regardless of the landfill’s title, the province led by Rizal Governor Nini Ynares doesn’t personal or handle it.

“Una po sa lahat, nais nating liwanagin na bagama’t taglay nito ang pangalan ng lalawigan, ang nasabing sanitary landfill ay hindi po pagmamay-ari at hindi pinangangasiwaan ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Rizal,” mentioned the Rizal provincial authorities on Sunday, February 22, or two days after the incident.

“Ang operasyon at pamamahala nito ay nasa ilalim ng isang pribadong kumpanya.”

(To begin with, we need to make clear that whereas it has the title of the province, the sanitary landfill is just not owned or managed by the provincial authorities of Rizal. The operation and administration of the landfill is beneath a non-public firm.)

The non-public firm Worldwide Strong Waste Built-in Administration Specialist (ISWIMS) operates the landfill in Rodriguez by Inexperienced Leap Strong Waste Administration Included. ISWIMS additionally operates one other landfill in Rizal within the city of San Mateo.

The physique of considered one of three individuals reported lacking has been retrieved, Rodriguez, Rizal Mayor Ronnie Evangelista mentioned on Monday, February 23. The 2 others stay lacking. Evangelista mentioned experiences that there have been 50 individuals buried or lacking is “exaggerated.” The mayor was reacting to the report from city poor group Kadamay that greater than 50 people had been lacking.

Evangelista himself echoed the provincial authorities’s clarification and reiterated that the landfill is operated by a non-public company.

“Hindi po atin ‘yan. Hindi po saklaw natin ‘yan,” mentioned Evangelista on Monday. “Not that we’re making excuses kasi po ay buhay po ng kababayan natin ang mga nakasalalay po diyan.”

(It’s not ours. We don’t cowl that. Not that we’re making excuses as a result of we’re speaking about lives at stake right here.)

Evangelista mentioned the municipality has “restricted scope of authority” over the landfill. Each the Rizal and Rodriguez native governments have requested an investigation by the Division of Atmosphere and Pure Sources.

Underneath the legislation, native authorities items retain major enforcement and accountability for strong waste administration.

Name for accountability

Kadamay known as for accountability from non-public firm ISWIMS and the Rodriguez native authorities for his or her “negligence and cover-up of the tragedy.”

The group mentioned the residents from this space in Rodriguez are additionally on the receiving finish of threats of demolition and displacement by New San Jose Builders, a agency owned by former housing chief Jose Acuzar.

“Iginigiit din ang agarang proteksyon sa kabuhayan at kaligtasan ng mga maralitang mangangalakal, pagtigil sa anumang demolisyon at panggigipit sa komunidad, at pagpapanagot sa lahat ng kumpanyang kumikita sa operasyong naglalagay sa panganib sa buhay ng maralita,” Kadamay mentioned.

(We insist on the swift safety of the lives of impoverished waste employees, the termination of any demolition or harassment of the neighborhood, and holding accountable the businesses who revenue from operations that endanger the lives of the city poor.)

Environmental group Greenpeace Philippines criticized the nationwide authorities’s poor implementation of the strong waste administration legislation, saying motion “has largely centered on managing waste solely after it’s already generated.”

“These aren’t accidents,” Marian Ledesma, campaigner for Greenpeace, mentioned. “We’re seeing the identical tragedies and issues recur regardless of being in numerous places with totally different native governments and personal corporations concerned.” – Rappler.com