New trash collection sked in Cebu City “successful”

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government has identified only minor problems in the implementation of a new garbage collection scheme starting Sunday.

In particular, barangays Luz, Pasil, Sawang Calero, and Suba reportedly did not observe the new scheme and that there are still households that placed their trash in areas where they are not allowed to do so.

Despite the minor problems, Department of Public Services Assistant Head John Paul Gelasque still considered the first day of implementation of the new garbage collection as successful, considering that majority of the barangays followed what the city government set.

The garbage collection schedule was changed because City Hall does not want to contribute to traffic congestion. The old collection schedule was 4 a.m. to 12 p.m., 5 p.m. to midnight, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Gelasque said that to solve the minor problems, barangays should cooperate in following the new garbage collection schedule, which his from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m.

“So ang nahitabo nato, akong gipahibawo ang akong monitoring personnel nga na-assign ana nga barangay nga mosulti sila sa barangay official nga dapat i-follow ni nila kay unsaon man nato pag-set sa sistema kun sige sila paghimo og kaugalingong mga schedule,” Gelasque said.

DPS also designated four to five compactor trucks and around 80 barangay environmental officers (BEOs) to monitor the main streets of the city to counter-check if all garbage were collected.

“Ang ilang ginabuhat, for example, kini nga compactor truck gikan sa Bulacao ngadto sa DSWD, igo ra gyud na sila maglakaw-lakaw sa main streets kay dili ka-afford ang siyudad nga mahugaw sa wala pa ang collection,” Gelasque said.

BEOs will issue citation tickets that require those found disposing of their garbage on the streets before and beyond the collection schedule to pay a P500 fine. Majority of the BEOs came from the mountain barangays.

Gelasque said they asked the assistance of BEOs from the mountain barangays to monitor the streets considering that the volume of garbage in their place were not the same as those in the lowland barangays of the city.

Within the week, DPS would have a meeting for the assessment of the new time schedule and to also discuss other concerns that may surfaced along the way. (FREEMAN)