SWMB claims cheaper rentals

 CEBU, Philippines - Solid Waste Management Board Presiding Officer Janeses “Jade” Ponce said that the city government is actually saving from the rental of equipment from Armed Builders compared to the rate that the city paid for the same purpose in the past.

Ponce was able to secure a copy of a purchase request sometime in February 2010 which shows that the city paid for the rental of garbage trucks used at the Landfill at a rate of P1,200 per hour.

The purchase request was signed by Councilor Augustus “Jun” Pe who was labeled then as the Landfill – Deputy Mayor. The same purchase request was approved by then Mayor, now Representative Tomas Osmeña.

“During their time, they leased each dump truck at the rate of P1,200.00 per hour to be used for the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill. Let’s just say they used this for eight hours each day the total amount paid as rental for each truck each day would come out to P9,600.00. If used for 24 hours, each truck would be rented at about P28,800.00 per day!” Ponce said.

Currently, the city only pays P3,998.37 for 24-hours/day or P166.59 per hour.

“Our P166.59 per hour compared to their P1,200.00 per hour, so who is overpricing what?” Ponce said.

Ponce said this shall answer accusations that Mayor Michael Rama is allegedly guilty of overpricing the rental of dump trucks used to ferry the city’s trash to the private landfill in Consolacion.

“This is just a foretaste of what’s to come. Remember the saying - never throw stones at your neighbor if you live in a glass house,” Ponce said.

The city council urged Rama to rescind the contract with Armed Builders because allegedly the city is disadvantaged in the contract.

Basing from the report of Landfill Manager Randy Navarro, the city is losing for paying the whole amount of rental while the trucks are only able to make one to two trips per day.

Navarro said the trucks are supposed to make at least three trips per day, but this is not stipulated in the contract.

City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete earlier said the rental of the equipment is on a 24-hour basis so it is the landfill manager who must make sure the equipment are optimized.

Navarro said there are various reasons why the trucks are not able to go to Consolacion frequently as expected like the truck ban implemented in the streets and roads of Mandaue City.

Navarro suggested a change in the mode of payment from per day to per trip.

Councilor Nida Cabrera said the city does not have to rent anymore if it will just leave the collection and transfer of garbage to the barangays. Cabrera said the city can just increase the fuel allocation of barangays for garbage trucks so the barangays can go directly to Consolacion.

The SWMB is yet to discuss the matter and will make their recommendations to the mayor. The SWMB is set to meet Wednesday next week.  (FREEMAN)