City probing Basureros

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Government has launched an investigation on Paglaum Basureros 20/20 Inc. following the revelation that it is collecting P750 per participant of a seminar it offers and earning more than P2 million already.

The non-government organization (NGO), which briefs businesses on proper compliance with the City’s solid waste ordinance, is not accredited with the City Government.

“Nagsugod nami sa among (We already started our) investigation kay we really have to check and investigate because of some complaints,” lawyer Jerome Castillo, City legal officer, said.

He said Michael Rama instructed him to conduct an investigation and review certain documents in relation to the controversy.

Meanwhile, an officer of the NGO yesterday issued a statement explaining the organization’s side on the issue.

“The way City Councilor Nida Cabrera has been depicting Paglaum Basureros 20/20 before the Cebu City’s new media is deeply disappointing. I feel compelled to speak up to balance what my colleague at the Cebu City Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB) is making reporters and the general public believe,” said Engr. Francis Paragas, Paglaum Basureros’ managing director.

He and Cabrera, who heads the City Council committee on environment, are both members of the City SWMB.

Paragas said Paglaum Basureros is a private sector initiative formed to make sure that the Solid Waste Management Act and other pertinent environmental laws are complied with.

On the implementation of City Ordinance (CO) 2243, Basureros helped by offering seminars to the city’s 28,000 business establishments on how best to comply the with the Environmental Sustainability Action Plan (ESAP) requirement of the City Government.

The ordinance is aimed to “protect, preserve, conserve and restore the quality of the City’s sources of life and to mitigate the adverse impact of global warming and climate change, while fostering smart growth and economic development.”

Among its provisions is the mandatory submission of an ESAP when securing or renewing a business or mayor’s permit.

“To be plain and explicit, Paglaum Basureros is not collecting and has never collected fees (from the City Government) pursuant to giving seminars on how to comply with a new requirement in getting or renewing a business or mayor’s permit, the preparation and submission of an Environmental Sustainability Action Plan (ESAP),” Paragas said.

Earlier, the City Council questioned the legitimacy of Paglaum Basureros in conducting seminars and collecting the P750 registration fee even if it not accredited by the City.

Paragas confirmed charging attendees of their seminars, saying “as we don’t receive government funding, we collect a nominal fee of P750 from those who attend our learning sessions”.

He also said they collected more than P2 million from 2,758 people who attended the five seminars they have conducted so far in SM City and in Ayala Center Cebi.

Paragas, though, said the money was used to defray cost of the venue, food, training materials and honoraria for speakers, including Cabrera.

“A large bulk of the expenditure goes to the venue…to ensure that participants have a comfortable learning atmosphere. Holding the trainings in these venues means having associated costs for projector, lighting and sound equipment rentals,” he said.

He explained that P9,000 a day for around 60 days was spent to pay 30 Paglaum Basureros staffers who distributed letters of invitations in Cebu City streets. Each one was given an allowance of P300 a day plus fare and snacks.

He said that at no cost to the City, 2,758 business owners were oriented about ESAP because of their seminars. According to him, that is 2,758 businesses that are now less likely to impact the environment negatively.

On the investigation Rama ordered, Castillo said he already assigned a colleague to do the fact-finding investigation.

“Naa nay (There is already a) lawyer in charge but I will not disclose his name because he will be conducting an investigation,” said Castillo.

He said they have to look into the matter even if no formal complaint has been filed.

“This is a government, di man ni (not the) private sector, so we have to take cognizance of any complaint.  Ato gyod ng atimanon (We have to attend to this) the soonest under the doctrine of transparency even walay (if there is no) formal written complaint,” Castillo said.

In their session last Wednesday, Cabrera revealed she received phoned-in complaints from different business establishments because they were allegedly required to attend Paglaum Basureros’ seminars and asked to pay P750 each.

That prompted the City Council to request Paglaum Basureros to attend an executive session on October 23 for it to explain why it is collecting from business establishments.

The body also asked the NGO to furnish its members a list of establishments that paid the P750 registration fee.

Castillo said that they will submit a report to Rama and City Council after their formal investigation and examination of facts.— /RHM (FREEMAN)