Carcar City eyes private firm to collect garbage

CEBU, Philippines - A private firm, FDR-Integrated Resource Recovery Management Incorporated, which has operated the region's first comprehensive waste management facilities, has been considered for the collection of garbage in Carcar City using its equipment and resources, supposedly starting February 25.

Mayor Nicepuro Apura said the possible entry of FDR-IRRM came after the city closed its open dump in compliance of the mandate of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

"The law bans open dumpsites, thus the city government had to close its own,” said the mayor, adding that the City Council has yet to tackle and approve the company’s contract with the local government, including the cost of the project.

Apura, at this early, said the FDR-IRRM’s proposal is tempting because it will be the one to handle the garbage collection, which would mean lesser job for the city government.

The city was earlier planning to construct a sanitary landfill but had to reconsider it because it could not yet afford to convert the existing dump into a landfill, Apura said.

Apura cited the case of the City of Naga, which was able to manage the proper closure of its dumpsite by commissioning FDR-IRRI in garbage collection, under a 25-year agreement.  — Garry B. Lao/RAE (FREEMAN)