CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he will ask for the opinion of the Department of Public Services (DPS) regarding the fuel consumption of barangay garbage trucks before he will approve the request of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) to increase to their monthly allocation.
This development came after reporters asked the mayor if he will approve the request from the ABC to increase the monthly fuel allowance so that the collection operation will not be delayed.
Osmeña said this is the first time he is hearing about the issue.
"First time I heard that…is it a legitimate excuse? I don't have any objection if they use it for that, but if they transfer it to other vehicle just to make suroy, ah, that's another issue," he told reporters yesterday during the press conference at his office in City Hall.
"I will ask the DPS what the situation is, but I will tell your garbage has been a major issue but I have never heard a case of a garbage truck of a barangay running out fuel. I never heard such case so it is very strange. That's the reason… I'll ask the opinion of Poloy (DPS Assistant Head John Paul Gelasque) is there a case that a garbage truck got stuck in the middle of the streets because it ran out of fuel? I never heard such a case," said Osmeña.
Last Thursday, ABC president and Tisa barangay captain Phillip Zafra asked the city government to increase the month fuel allowance of their garbage trucks because there have been instances when barangay officials had to use their personal money for refueling the trucks and even for maintenance work as well.
"Mohangyo ko nga patas-an kay if there's a need for DPS to monitor maayo unta nga magtinabangay mi, sila mismo maka-determinar kun unsa ang additional nga panginahanglan kay, after all,wala may barangay nga dili gusto mokolekta sa basura kay kami man ang dukdukon sa mga residente," Zafra earlier said.
Meanwhile, Osmeña commented on the recent statement of Kamputhaw barangay officials that it was political harassment when he pulled out the allowance of barangay trash men for allegedly refusing to collect the garbage along Gorordo Avenue.
"Ang problema sa Kamputhaw, they flaunt it. Nagpahambog sila. They don't like to collect because it's like that… we're trying to work with them. Hambogero kayo, and besides we are not obliged to give them allowances; they are supposed to have their own budget for that," he said.
He then denied the accusation of Councilor Raymond Garcia who was a former Kam-puthaw councilman that he was just focusing his attention on the non-allied barangays. (FREEMAN)