High school teacher seeks TRO on Manila garbage collection ordinance

High school teacher and concerned citizen Barry Tayam on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order against a Manila ordinance that revised garbage collection fees for business establishments.

Following the Manila Ordinance 9151, several business owners said their garbage collection tax surged over 1000% compared to last year’s collection.

“Nakikita ko na hindi makatarungan para sa mga negosyante natin dito sa Lungsod ng Maynila, lalong lalo na sa mga maliliit na negosyante,” Tayam said.

(I see that it is not fair to our business owners here in the City of Manila, especially the small business owners.)

“Sa pagkakatanda ko… times 12 ang tinaasan. So isipin ninyo, sa doble pa nga lang na presyo ay malaking bagay na. Ano pa kaya 'yung times 12,” he added.

(To the best of my recollection… it was increased by 12 times. So think about it, even just a doubling of the price is already a big deal. What more if it’s times 12.)

Tayam asked the SC to issue a TRO against Manila Ordinance 9151, specifically the collection of revised garbage fees due on or before February 13, as well as all subsequent quarterly assessments or those integrated into renewal business permits.

Aside from this, Tayam asked the SC to declare the ordinance as null and void for being illegal and unconstitutional.

He also asked the High Court to order the City Assessor and City Treasurer to cease and desist from assessing and collecting the new fees.

Tayam is also seeking the refund of all garbage fees already collected.

“Meron pong obvious na abuse of discretion ang ginawa ng Lungsod ng Maynila kasama po ang mga konseho nito,” he said.

(There was an obvious abuse of discretion committed by the City of Manila together with its council.)

When asked about his legal standing, considering that he is a resident of Las Piñas City, Tayam said that the issue has transcendental importance. He said that the garbage fee also concerns the environment.

“Ang legal standing po ay nare-relax pag dating po sa mga environmental issue at pwede po ang legal standing or locus standi ng isang concerned citizen,” he said.

(Legal standing is relaxed when it comes to environmental issues, and the legal standing or locus standi of a concerned citizen is allowed.)

The respondents are Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Vice Mayor Angela Atienza.

GMA News Online reached out to the local government of Manila for comment and will publish it once available. —AOL/JMA, GMA Integrated News