NBI probe sought into Cebu City trash woes

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Council has decided to seek the help of an independent body, in this case, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-7, on the many issues that have stemmed from its problem on garbage collection and disposal.

The council made the decision through a resolution authored by Councilor Nestor Archival following a series of meetings and sessions on the matter.

The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), the Visayas Ombudsman, and the Philippine National Police were also considered but Vice Mayor Michael Rama said it is better to let one agency handle the investigation for faster results.

The issue first surfaced during the second quarter general assembly of the Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB) during which LnB President Franklyn Ong, himself an ex-officio member of the City Council, disclosed that the landfill in Barangay Binaliw would no longer accept trash directly from the city as the trash must come from a transfer station starting June 17.

Barangay Inayawan Captain Kirk Repollo would disclose later that garbage trucks coming from barangays in the city’s North and South districts would line up at the transfer station.

Rama who was acting mayor at that time decided to check the situation in Inayawan, a move that led to more issues getting unearthed, including alleged environmental violations allegedly committed by the management of the transfer station, as well as the haulers.

The Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-7 issued a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) against the operation.

The transfer station was managed by RMI Solid Waste Management and Hauling Services while trash was being hauled by DOCAST Construction.

A check on the bid results and purchase order of DOCAST led to more questions, especially when the city’s Department of Public Services asked for more funds via Supplemental Budget 1 after its P400 million budget for 2021 was already depleted. The Council did not grant the request.

Department of Public Services (DPS) lead lawyer Jigo Dacua said DPS had to collect more garbage that the city’s former contractor, Jomara, allegedly left behind. Jomara said, however, that DPS already gave it a certificate of completion after it lost the bid to DOCAST.

Archival, the Council’s minority floor leader, reached out to ARN Central Waste Management, the operator of the landfill in Binaliw, to get details on the garbage the city has dumped from January to the end of May 2021.

ARN’s representative told the Council during the session on Thursday, August 19, that DOCAST dumped a total of 35,038 tons. DPS, meanwhile, dumped 19,943 tons while barangays dumped 17,766 tons. This totals to 72,747 tons.

Archival questioned why the city paid DOCAST P250 million when the total garbage the company collected would only be equivalent to about P63 million.

Rama also disclosed that three checks were released for payment to DOCAST even without his knowledge and consent as acting mayor at that time.

With many questions left unanswered, the Council decided to end discussions on the matter and have independent eyes take a look into the issues.

Dacua said the department respects the decision of the Council and will cooperate in any investigation that will be undertaken.- JMO (FREEMAN)