The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has recorded a total P3 billion annual expenditure for solid waste management in Metro Manila.
This was bared by Zamboanga del Norte 1st District Rep. Romeo Jalosjos Jr., vice chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations who defended the proposed budget of MMDA for 2021 before the House plenary.
“Mr. Speaker, ang estimate po natin is P3 billion ang kailangan natin sa solid waste management (Mr. Speaker, our estimate is we need P3 billion for the solid waste management,” he said when asked by Quezon City 4th District Rep. Jesus “Bong” Suntay on MMDA’s total yearly expense in carrying out its mandate as the lead implementing arm of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
Suntay even asked Jalosjos if the MMDA operates any landfill to which the Zamboanga lawmaker replied in the negative.
Jalosjos said it was the MMDA that is paying for the tipping fee, while the hauling fee is being paid by the local government units.
He said only P1.9 billion has been allocated for the solid waste disposal under the proposed General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2021.
He said such amount “is not enough” to dispose all the solid wastes in the National Capital Region (NCR).
According to Jalosjos, the estimated waste generation in Metro Manila is 60,000 cubic meters per day.
When asked by Caloocan Rep. Erice how much the MMDA is paying for the disposal of waste per cubic meter, Jalosjos said, “more or less P210 per cubic meter.”
"Meaning, kung P210 po, ang binabayad po natin on average of P12.6 million a day? (Meaning, if P210, we pay on the average of P12.6 million a day?,” Erice asked.
Jalosjos then moved to temporarily suspend the deliberations to confer the data with the MMDA.
"I stand corrected, hindi po pala P210, P257 per cubic (meter),” he said.