Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said the sight of uncollected garbage compelled him to order a takeover of the garbage collection systems in barangays Guadalupe, Labangon and Tejero.
“I would like to be very clear. Starting today, collection of garbage in Guadalupe, Tejero and Labangon will be done by City Hall. I do not know what’s happening. It’s much better if we will take over,” Rama said during his Monday afternoon press conference.
The three barangays are the bailiwicks of the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) of former mayor Tomas Osmena who is now challenging Rama’s second re-election bid.
Rama said he passed by the three barangays on Sunday and saw piles of uncollected garbage in their areas.
He directed the Department of Public Services (DPS) on Monday to assume garbage collection responsibilities from the three barangays to avoid finger-pointing.
Atty. Jade Ponce, head of the Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB), said Republic Act 9003 or the Solid Wast Management Act mandates the barangays to take care of their garbage collection.
“The continued neglect and failure of the barangays to comply with their duty of collecting garbage through their sheer incompetence justifies the City’s takeover of basic garbage collection in order to save the health and well-being of the barangays’ constituents,” he said.