To boost garbage collection, Incentives for Talisay barangays mulled

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City administrator Richel Bacaltos yesterday said he will prioritize the giving of incentives to barangays including fuel allocation so that they can strictly implement the “No Segregation No Collection” policy that will be implemented next month. 

Bacaltos, who sits as chairman of the local finance committee, said he has brought up the matter to the city budget office on the request of Association of Barangay Council president Charles Basillote to allocate each barangay with a garbage truck and a monthly subsidy of P5,000 for fuel and maintenance.

“Most probably, we will give them fuel subsidy aron mapalig-on pud nila ang garbage collection,” Bacaltos said, adding that “No Segregation, No Collection” policy will have a one-month trial period starting September 1. 

Bacaltos, however, said the P5,000 fuel subsidy might be increased depending on the scope of their area of jurisdiction. 

“Atong tan-awon ang capacity to grant the fuel subsidy ug depende sa barangay kay ang uban dako nga barangay, so dako pud ilang consumption of fuel,” Bacaltos said. 

Of the 22 barangays, only 15 have garbage trucks.

The city collects garbage for the rest that do not have garbage trucks. 

Association of Barangay Council president Charles Basillote, who sits as an ex-officio in the city council, said it was time to implement a better solid waste management scheme following an intensive and city-wide education and information campaign at the barangay level. 

There are 22 barangays in the city but at least four barangays, namely, Pooc, Poblacion, Lawaan III, and Bulacao will serve as pilot areas. 

Basillote, who attended the Solid Waste Management meeting last week, echoed the need to start the garbage segregation so that the city can fully utilize its sanitary landfill.

The biodegradable, non-biodegradable, or special waste, has to be segregated.

The city has to plot schedules yet for the collection of biodegradable and non-biodegradable.

If the project is successful in the four barangays, it will be implemented in other barangays in November, he said.

Basillote said the program seeks to follow the provisions of Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2001, which requires households as well as commercial and business establishments to segregate biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes and place them in separate garbage bags, which would be collected on a weekly basis. 

Biodegradable waste materials include kitchen waste such as fruit peelings, vegetable discards, leftover or spoiled food as well as garden or yard litter such as leaves, weeds, and twigs. 

Non-biodegradable garbage, on the other hand, includes metal, glass, plastic, rubber, bonded composites like foils or tetra packs, paper and cardboard, leather and cloth. 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is strictly implementing RA 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

It has already issued a notice to sue LGUs which have not complied with the law.

Basillote said it is his obligation also as barangay president to inculcate in the barangays the need to cooperate with the city’s solid waste management thrust which is to segregate garbage at source. 

In his barangay, in Dumlog, for instance, he said R.A. 9003 is being enforced. – (FREEMAN)