The Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB) repeated its appeal to the Cebu City Council to amend City Ordinance 1361 to increase garbage collection fees.
During last Thursday’s executive session of the council, Jade Ponce, SWMB chairman, said an increase in garbage collection fees could help the city raise revenues to repair trucks and buy haulers.
He said fees for commercial establishments should be based on the type and quantity of garbage they generate rather than the nature of their business, activity or floor area.
“The basis of the collection of fees should be the volume. You generate it, you pay for it,” he said.
This way people will be forced to segregate trash and comply with waste management principles of reducing, reuse and recycling, he said.
Proposal
Ponce earlier said schools pay an average of P500 a year for garbage collection while fast food chains are billed P800 or P2,500 annually despite being one of the most prolific generators of garbage.
Councilor Nida Cabrera, chairperson of the City Council’s environment committee, agreed with the proposal.
“If we calculate what the city charges it won’t be enough compared to what we spend for disposing of the waste,” she said.
Cabrera earlier said the city should discuss the proposed increase in garbage fees with the business community.
Councilor Sisinio Andales opposed an increase in garbage fees. Councilor Gerardo Carillo asked Ponce to submit the proposal to the the City Council so an amendment of City Ordinance 1361 can be made. He said the amendment could benefit barangays which take part in garbage collection.
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