Brgys told to shape up or lose fuel allowance

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has warned all barangay officials to shape up in their respective cleanliness drive otherwise they will lose their fuel allowance from the city government.

Rama also gave the Department of Public Services until February 24 next year to improve the garbage collection or face the consequences.

The Mayor said starting next year he will be imposing a stricter policy in the collection of garbage because it has vandalized the city’s real beauty.   

“Barangays have garbage trucks and we are providing them with fuel. If ang collection sa barangay is tardy, then we will withdraw their fuel allowance. We will retain the allowance of those who are helping the city in maintaining cleanliness,” Rama said.

Rama does not want barangays to rely too much on the city government in providing the basic services to their constituents such as the collection of garbage.

Rama said he will implement a major revamp in the DPS if he does not see any improvement in the garbage collection until February next year. The Mayor said he will also implement a major revamp for non performing departments.

Aside from the revamp, garbage collectors who are hired as casuals are also in danger of losing their jobs.

“I will not renew their contract. If they will not improve, I will not hesitate to do that. Tan-awon sad nako ang mga daghang absent,” Rama said.

A task force will be created to monitor and report the operation of the DPS. Rama said that the department and its people ought to know that his administration is very serious in solving the garbage woes.

Rama specifically wants the DPS to be on time in collecting the garbage after several instances when he has to call the DPS just to collect the garbage in areas where he usually passes by.

All garbage trucks must also be cleaned regularly and must have a cover all the time.

Rama said that uncovered trucks leave garbage along the roads which is worsening the problem. Garbage trucks that have sacks hanging on the side will also be penalized because it shows that the collectors are undertaking segregation for their personal business.

“I don’t want to hear anymore garbage collectors in the business of segregation. Segregation must be done at home or in the barangay level,” he said.

The city has started providing assistance to barangays to enable them to put up their own Material Recovery Facility in compliance with the Republic Act 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act.

In the meantime the city government is studying the possibility of dumping our garbage in the private landfill in Barangay Pulog, Consolacion while the city is yet to find a second sanitary landfill.

The city generates 400 to 500 tons of garbage everyday that we dumped in Inayawan Sanitary Landfill that has already exceeded its lifespan. – THE FREEMAN