San Mateo mayor surprised by Manila's landfill plan

San Mateo Mayor Bartolome Rivera Jr. was surprised by the plan of the Manila city government and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to use the town's landfill for garbage disposal.

Rivera stated that there was no consultation or advance notice given to the local government regarding the MMDA's decision.

The San Mateo Mayor mentioned that the additional volume of waste from Manila could quickly fill the landfill's capacity, cause heavier traffic, and endanger the health and safety of the residents.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno announced on August 26 that the MMDA ordered the city government to divert its garbage disposal to San Mateo following the closure of the Navotas sanitary landfill.

Moreno also ordered the city government to set up a small transfer station and required private contractors to buy new trucks for hauling the garbage, as San Mateo is approximately 30 kilometers away.