In Talisay, garbage is everywhere

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City is suffering from a shortage of garbage trucks – seven of its 12 trucks are out of commission, obviously the five making the rounds are not enough to collect the more or less 40 tons of garbage the city produces — and unhelpful residents exacerbate the problem.

On the roadsides are discarded objects, sometimes scattered by dogs that come looking for food.Somewhere near the Mananga Bridge in barangay Dumlog the other day, an unpleasant smell coming from rotting garbage was strong enough to make any person recoil.

Edwin Nierves, chief of Ecological Solid Waste Management Collection and Transport, told The Freeman most residents dispose of their garbage on roadsides, oblivious to the dates garbage trucks usually drop by.

Nierves said some residents hire trisikad drivers to get rid of their garbage.

Trisikad drivers, who often are broke and are always on the lookout for easy money, succumb to the offer.

The garbage either land in other barangays or, when nobody is looking, under the Mananga Bridge.

Nierves said an information committee has been formed to educate residents about the proper disposal of garbage to prevent flooding and the spread of diseases.

It is headed by Roberto Camay.

Nierves estimates about 40 tons of garbage is collected everyday, 30 percent of which comes from Tabunok, the business center in the city.

Of the total bulk, 40 percent are materials made of plastic.

Camay told The Freeman that the information drive was started last July 8 in Tabunok, Lagtang, and Tapul.

Of the three barangays, Tabunok is the most problematic as far as garbage disposal is concerned.

Habal-habal drivers and some jeepney passengers who come to the barangay unload their garbage just anywhere. (FREEMAN)