Harassment
PROTECT’s efforts to educate the people on the effects of the landfill has prompted the local government to react.
On April 17, nine members of the organization together with tricycle drivers who participated in the leaflet distribution were accused of littering by the elements of the Office of Public Safety and Security(OPSS), and of illegal assembly by the police who arrived later. “Nagkaroon ng konting argument hanggang sa kami ay sigaw sigawan ng operatiba ng OPSS at pinipilit nga nila na kami ay sumama” (There were arguments and eventually the operatives of the OPSS started shouting at us, forcing us to come with them.) Santos said.
One member of a women’s organization, Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Kababaihan ng Guinayang (SNKGI), was reported to have been questioned by the barangay captain on why SNKGI was actively participating in the protest actions.
PROTECT organized a convention held on April 19 wherein resource speakers were invited to discuss the landfill and its possible effects on the community. More than 500 participants including the community leaders that went to the convention gave a positive reaction.
With this, the local government also organized their own forum to counteract the convention of PROTECT. But the residents who participated in the said forum gave negative reactions on the local government’s interest to generate more income from the landfill project.
JPEPA?
Bautista said that Atienza has already said that they are alloting P1.8 million ($38,095) for the construction of landfills in line with the Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. Jurado said that their municipal mayor must have seen the revenues that landfills bring to neighboring cities and municipalities, which have agreed to build one in their area.
Jurado added that there are more landfills to be constructed in the province of Rizal like the 35- hectare landfill in Morong and another in Angono. “Nakikita namin ang pagpapatibay ng memorandum of agreement ng JPEPA,” (With these, we could see the implementation of the memorandum of agreement of JPEPA) Jurado said.
The Japanese-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) is one of the most controversial economic agreements that Gloria Arroyo has signed since she became president. “Kapalit ng mga nurses na kukunin ng Japan ay ang toxic chemicals or toxic wastes,” (In exchange for the nurses that Japan would hire are the toxic chemicals or toxic wastes) Jurado said.
Hope to stop the landfill
Like the first landfill of Metro Manila Development Authority that was successfully closed in Brgy. Pintong Bukawe, PROTECT believes that this landfill can also be stopped through the unity of the residents in protesting and seeking more support from the communities.
Beau Baconguis., campaign manager for the Philippines of Greenpeace, said that there are communities who resist landfills to be placed near their area. She said that no one would want their home to be a place where garbage is being dumped. Baconguis added that even waste pickers are not in favor of landfills. “Sila (yung mga nakatira malapit sa landfill) kasi yung directly affected kapag nagkaroon ng contamination,” (People living near the landfill would be most affected once there is a contamination from the toxic wastes generated from the mixed wastes.) says Baconguis.
“Kung ikaw ay may-ari ng isang bahay papayag ka ba na tapunan ang bakuran mo ng basura ng ibang tao na ikaw mismo nagkakaproblema sa kung paano mo itatapon ang basura mo,” Santos said. (If you are a homeowner, will you let other people’s trash be dumped in your own backyard when you yourself are having problems on where to dump your trash..)
PROTECT also supports the 54-day Kampuhan led by the Kilusang Mambubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) outside the Southgate of Batasan. Jurado said that the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) basically includes all possible land areas that may be planted with trees or for agricultural products. But since there are conversions of possible agricultural lands to construct landfills, it is therefore a recurring issue that may be dealt with once GARB is passed.
KALIKASAN has already appealed to the Senate and to the House of Representatives and is currently waiting to be called to appear before an inquiry or an investigation. Bautista said that they are considering filing charges against environment secretary Atienza for approving the San Mateo landfill despite the false details found in the documents used in the proposal.
Alternatives
Both Baconguis and Santos believe that the government can implement alternative ways for waste disposal which include Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Material Recovery Facility. Though such programs will require a certain budget, they will not bring harm to the environment and the people like the landfill.
According to Santos, there is a big chance that the landfill will be stopped if our country is as they say a nation of democracy. “May dahilan para tumutol ang tao, so anong dahilan para hindi ka lumabas at tumutol din?” (There is justified reason to resist the San Mateo landfill. So what would hinder you from coming out and resisting it too?)(Bulatlat.com)
