‘Not ours’: Rizal gov’t washes hands of Rodriguez landfill incident

MANILA, Philippines – Following another landfill incident this time in the Rizal Provincial Sanitary Landfill, the first response of the Rizal provincial government was to clarify that despite the landfill’s name, the province led by Rizal Governor Nini Ynares does not own or manage 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,” said the Rizal provincial government on Sunday, February 22, or two days after the incident.

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

(First of all, we want to clarify that while it has the name of the province, the sanitary landfill is not owned or controlled by the provincial government of Rizal. The operation and management of the landfill is under a private company.)

The private company International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist (ISWIMS) operates the landfill in Rodriguez through Green Leap Solid Waste Management Incorporated. ISWIMS also operates another landfill in Rizal in the town of San Mateo.

The body of one of three persons reported missing has been retrieved, Rodriguez, Rizal Mayor Ronnie Evangelista said on Monday, February 23. The two others remain missing. Evangelista said reports that there were 50 persons buried or missing is “exaggerated.” The mayor was reacting to the report from urban poor group Kadamay that more than 50 individuals were missing.

Evangelista himself echoed the provincial government’s clarification and reiterated that the landfill is operated by a private corporation.

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

(It’s not ours. We do not cover that. Not that we’re making excuses because we’re talking about lives at stake here.)

Evangelista said the municipality has “limited scope of authority” over the landfill. Both the Rizal and Rodriguez local governments have requested an investigation by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Under the law, local government units retain primary enforcement and responsibility for solid waste management.

Call for accountability

Kadamay called for accountability from private company ISWIMS and the Rodriguez local government for their “negligence and cover-up of the tragedy.”

The group said the residents from this area in Rodriguez are also on the receiving end of threats of demolition and displacement by New San Jose Builders, a firm 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 said.

(We insist on the swift protection of the lives of impoverished waste workers, the termination of any demolition or harassment of the community, and holding accountable the companies who profit from operations that endanger the lives of the urban poor.)

Environmental organization Greenpeace Philippines criticized the national government’s poor implementation of the solid waste management law, saying action “has largely focused on managing waste only after it is already generated.”

“These are not accidents,” Marian Ledesma, campaigner for Greenpeace, said. “We’re seeing the same tragedies and problems recur despite being in different locations with different local governments and private firms involved.” – Rappler.com