Garbage segregation policy Barangays told: Fail not or lose City Hall benefits

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City barangays that are not able to strictly implement the new garbage policy might lose some of the benefits from the city government including fuel allowance.

Association of Barangay Councils President Michael Ralota said he will recommend to Mayor Michael Rama the suspension of the fuel allowance of the barangays that remain problematic in the implementation of the “No segregation, No collection” policy. 

 The barangays are given one week grace period from April 1 to start the strict implementation of the new policy. The one week period ends today. This means that all barangays should strictly implement waste segregation to their constituents or else face the consequence of losing their benefits from the city government.

Personnel of the Cebu City Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Team along with the Barangay Environmental Officers shall be stricter in issuing citation tickets to barangays and individuals who will be caught violating the ordinance starting tomorrow.

Rama said he wants to give chance to the barangays to do the massive awareness campaign among their constituents. According to Rama, Ralota’s proposal will have to go through due process.

“It is not limited but could be included. We still have to do evaluation and assessment and validation,” Rama said.

Aside from fuel allowance, the city also pays for the electric and water bills of the barangays. The city also assist in the collection of garbage, in fact, the city pays for the salary of the garbage collectors.

The barangays are also enjoying millions worth of infrastructure projects funded by the city through the barangay aid. There are also bonuses such as rice and other incentives.

Pahina San Nicolas Captain Antonio Caruzca said that he agrees with the suggestion to cut the benefits of the barangays that remain resistant to the change. He said this will encourage the barangays to be stricter in the implementation which will in turn teach the constituents to be responsible citizens.

Caruzca admitted that their barangay had a difficulty during the first two days but he has mobilized his tanods and BEOs to keep a tight watch on violators.

Apas Captain Ramil Ayuman said he also has no problem with it but he appealed to the city government to provide incentives to barangays who have been working and serious in their job.

Ayuman also appealed to the city to be mindful of the welfare of the garbage collectors and the BEOs so as to encourage them to do their best.

He said that the BEOs in his barangay have not received their honoraria for four months now. Ayuman is also requesting the city government to remove the P5,000 salary cap for garbage collectors because every time the barangay tries to increase their share on the salary of garbage collectors the city also reduces its share due to the ceiling.

Two other barangay captains, Roger Resurreccion of Suba and Jose Navarro of Punta Princesa, support Ralota’s proposal.

Meanwhile, a private company, A.V. Mendoza and Associates, presented a proposal to the city council to rehabilitate the existing sanitary landfill in Inayawan and construct a new landfill in the area.

The scope of the works would include the removal and transport of approximately 500,000 cubic meters of old garbage and its disposal to a private sanitary landfill to be constructed in a private lot in Barangay Agsungot.

After the removal of the old garbage, about five hectares in Inayawan will be rehabilitated.

Councilor Nida Cabrera said that the proposal is promising but the cost is discouraging. She said the project might cost up to P500 million. She said though there are five other proposals they are waiting to be presented to the council. — (FREEMAN)