Talisay to turn to private auto shop for repair of seven garbage trucks

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay government will likely hire the services of a private auto repair shop for the repair of garbage trucks.

Edwin Nierves, chief of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Collection and Transport, said garbage collection will continue to suffer until the trucks are fixed.

The city has 12 garbage trucks but the other week only five were in good condition.

The rest were at the motor pool.

Councilor Antonio Bacaltos Jr., chairman on the committee on environment, wants the trucks fixed immediately.

But the Commission on Audit had once called the city’s attention for employing the services of a private shop for the repair of its heavy equipment when, in fact, it has a motor pool at its beck and call. This happened in the past administration.

On other hand, Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante said the city has no employees that are skilled in repairing motorized vehicles.

He said a private auto repair shop has asked the city for P6 million for the repair of some city vehicles and heavy equipment, which includes spare parts the shop had provided.

Villarante said some city-owned vehicles and heavy equipment still remain at the yard of the private auto shop.

City hall won’t pay what it owes the shop unless the COA says so.

Villarante said if the new administration can justify the need to hire a private entity to repair the trucks, COA just might reconsider its stance.

Aside from it, bidding is not needed if the cost of the repair will be P400,000 or less. However, documents are necessary.   (FREEMAN)