CAPAS, Tarlac (December 20, 2024) — The ongoing stalemate involving the Kalangitan Sanitary Landfill here has taken a new turn as the Court of Appeals (CA) 10th Division issued a 60-day temporary restraining order (TRO) on the implementation of a writ of injunction granted earlier by a Capas regional trial court (RTC).
This development effectively suspends actions to prevent the government from evicting Metro Clark Waste Management Corp. (MCWMC) from the 100-hectare landfill in New Clark City.
The TRO, dated December 16, temporarily sets aside the October 29 writ issued by RTC Judge Ronald Leo Haban. The writ had previously blocked the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) from forcibly taking over the landfill’s operations.
The landfill, located in Sitio Kalangitan, Barangay Cut-cut II, plays a crucial role in waste management across several local government units (LGUs) in Tarlac and nearby provinces, with the impasse having significant implications on their waste disposal needs.
The dispute originates from the expiration of MCWMC’s 25-year contract with CDC on Oct. 6. The agreement, signed in 1998, granted MCWMC the rights to construct, operate, and manage the waste management center. Following the contract’s termination, CDC and BCDA have sought to regain control over the facility, citing plans for modernization and compliance with environmental standards.
MCWMC, however, has resisted the takeover and filed cases in both Angeles City and Capas courts to secure an extension of its agreement. These legal actions remain unresolved, leaving the future of waste management services in limbo.
Local officials have urged the involved parties to resolve the issue swiftly to avoid adverse effects on public health and sanitation.
“The landfill is a critical facility for managing waste in our communities. Any prolonged disruption could lead to serious challenges,” said a municipal official from Capas.
Concepcion’s Municipal Environment and Natural Resources chief Sonofpray Dantes said that their LGU already has contingencies in place.
“We have arrangements with the Porac landfill in case Kalangitan is eventually closed although it will cost more to dispose our garbage in Pampanga,” Dantes said.
