Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President and CEO Atty. Agnes Devanadera said there will be no forced eviction in the contested Kalangitan waste facility.
This, as the Court of Appeals (CA) issued 60-day Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) in favor of Clark Development Corporation (CDC), temporarily halting the Preliminary Injunction issued by RTC Capas on October 29, 2024.
During a meeting with members of the Central Luzon Media Association Pampanga and Capampangans in Media (CAMI), Devanadera said CDC will not enforce an eviction of the MCWM. She said CDC and MCWM will now meet at the CA to discuss the case.
Devanadera said: “There has never been. There has never been any forced eviction. Kaya, iyon din ang… And that’s what we said to the Court of Appeals. There was never any forced eviction. So, what are we stopping? Right? In fact, what we’re asking is that we have a seamless turnover. Seamless turnover. Dahil baka may tao sila sa loob, ayaw namin yon. Ayaw namin ma perwisyo.”
However, Devanadera said the MCWM has no more authority to operate the Kalangitan waste facility.
Devanadera said MCWM can continue to operate but they could no longer use the contested facility.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Metro Clark Waste Management (MCWM) said “it is important to emphasize that this TRO does not authorize CDC to forcibly take over the Kalangitan Sanitary Landfill property. No Court Order exists that would permit such action, and the ongoing legal dispute regarding the status of our contract is still pending resolution by the courts.”
In October, a Regional Trial Court in Capas, Tarlac has issued a Writ of Preliminary Injunction after the CDC had attempted to take over the 100-hectare facility of the Kalangitan waste facility located in Capas, Tarlac.
The CDC Security has tried to serve the cease and desist order on October 25, 2024, but a Capas court injunction prevented them from taking over the facility, the only engineered sanitary landfill in Central Luzon that serves more than 150 LGUs and most hospitals in Metro Manila.
“Metro Clark Waste Management (MCWM) acknowledges the issuance of a 60-day TRO,” the statement said. “We respect the judicial process and remain committed to defending our rights and obligations under our lease agreement in the appropriate legal forums.”
“In the meantime, MCWM continues to fulfill its critical role in addressing the waste management needs of over 100 local government units (LGUs). Every day, we responsibly manage over 3,000 tons of municipal, industrial, and hospital waste, ensuring compliance with environmental standards and safeguarding public health.
“We invite stakeholders, members of the media, and the public to see for themselves the operations of MCWM at the Kalangitan Sanitary Landfill and compare it to other disposal facilities in the region. The Kalangitan Landfill is a world-class, ISO-certified engineered sanitary landfill, setting the benchmark for compliance and environmental stewardship, and is the only facility of its kind in the Philippines.
“In contrast, many alternative facilities are either too small, non-compliant, or in various ways fall short of addressing the scale of the country’s waste management challenges.
“The Philippines urgently needs more competent, world-class disposal facilities, not fewer. Shutting down MCWM—given its unmatched size, capacity, and compliance standards—would exacerbate the country’s waste management crisis. The solution to our growing waste challenges is not to close down essential infrastructure but to encourage the development of more facilities that meet or exceed the same high standards.
“Above all, we remind everyone that the Philippines is a society governed by the rule of law, not by force or intimidation. It is unlawful to forcibly take possession of a property without a due process and a proper Court Order. We call on CDC and the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) to uphold these principles and avoid actions that undermine legal and ethical standards.
“MCWM remains steadfast in its commitment to providing reliable, environmentally sound waste management solutions. We continue to advocate for a cooperative and lawful resolution to this dispute, ensuring that our nation’s pressing waste management needs are met for the benefit of all,” the statement said.