Soc pushes for privatization of garbage collection

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez is pushing for the privatization of garbage collection in the city.

City administrator Richel Bacaltos, in an interview with The Freeman, said the city hopes the privatization could start by January but as with all similar government transactions this will have to undergo a bidding process and may take time.

“Nakita man sa syudad ang panginahanglanon. I think the mayor is right in seeking to privatize the garbage collection but still it needs to undergo a process,” Bacaltos said.

Bacaltos said if the contractor doesn’t perform well, the city government can simply cancel its contract.

The committee is now studying the rationale behind the intention to privatize garbage collection, he said.

City budget officer Edgar Mabunay said one of the reasons why the collection of garbage should be privatized is that matters such as maintenance of garbage trucks could easily addressed. 

Mabunay believes that to privatize garbage collection, the city will have savings and a more efficient garbage collection. 

City Councilor Charles Basillote, who is the president of the Association of Barangay Council, said majority of the barangay captains agrees to the plan of the city government to privatize the city’s garbage collection. 

Basillote said the government cannot do it alone and it is just but right to get experts from the private sector. 

Last month, the city government allocated P5,000 to the city’s 22 barangays as fuel allocation for their garbage trucks.

The fuel allocation intended for garbage trucks will now be used to maintain peace and order. (FREEMAN)