MANILA, Philippines – Residents of San Mateo town, Rizal province have appealed to Metro Manila mayors to stop operations of a landfill in their town, saying it was harmful to them and to their environment.

The newly created “Alyansa Laban sa Tambakan ng Basura sa San Mateo [Alliance against the San Mateo Landfill]” wrote the mayors to formally voice their objections to the project, which the group claims is located in a protected forest area.

“We want you to know that we strongly oppose the dumpsite operation in our mountains, as it gravely destroys our natural resources and the environment and without a doubt endangers the lives of our families, most especially our children,” the group said.

“It is our officials who should be setting the example for us, citizens, yet now it is us who have to raise our voices in protest reminding the government officials that they have been remiss in and negligent of their duties,” it added.

Recently, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) gave the operator the go-signal to operate the landfill despite the allegations of environment violations by environmentalists.

The group fears the landfill would be used as the dumping ground not only of wastes from the town and neighboring municipalities but also from Metro Manila, which used to dump a portion of its garbage on another landfill in the town which the Supreme Court had ordered shut in 2005.

The environment groups, including EcoWaste Coalition, and Filinvest, whose own interests in developing the area were affected, argue that the landfill project is inside a protected forest area, a claim that the developer and town officials are disputing.
The dispute has reached the San Mateo Regional Trial Court, as Filinvest and EcoWaste filed a petition for preliminary injunction against the project. The court previously ruled against issuing a temporary restraining order on the project after it found no urgent reason to do so.

“We will serve as the protectors of our environment, and, no matter what it takes, we will remain steadfast in our advocacy to prevent further degradation of our community and to guard the future of our families,” the group said.

The coalition is composed of members of the Coalition for a Garbage-Free San Mateo, as well as various homeowners associations, church and education groups.