The Cebu City government is thinking of privatizing garbage collection because of the seeming mismanagement of this government service. Problems with frequent absences by garbage collectors have worsened the situation. (CDN FILE PHOTO)
CALLS to revive studies on the effectiveness of privatizing garbage collection in Cebu City have surfaced anew amid the failure of the “No Segregation, No Collection” policy.
Garbage collection has also been inefficient because of consistent absenteeism of garbage collectors.
Acting Cebu City Mayor Margot Osmeña said she will get all the data regarding the collection of garbage from the number of garbage trucks, the number of garbage collectors including those in the barangays and how it is being managed.
Osmeña said in a press conference yesterday that she met with the Department of Public Services so she could get an update on the issues haunting garbage collection and water supply.
“How many trucks do we have, how many people are there as far as garbage is concerned, and after all what is said and done it seems that, as far as equipment is concerned, we have enough,” Osmeña said.
The primary reason for the inefficient garbage collection is the absenteeism of garbage collectors.
“Equipment is not an issue. Apparently it all boils down to management,” Osmeña added.
She said there are 700 garbage collectors including those in the barangays.
RECYCLING MACHINE
She was dismayed to learn that the recycling machine of Mansei Recycle Systems Co. which could process plastic into plastic fuel was underutilized.
Mansei provided the technology to convert plastic fluff into fuel at the recycling plant, a P15-million facility funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
“It can process 5 tons a day, they are using less than 3 tons a day for a simple reason that there is no plastic that is being delivered,” Osmeña.
Aside from this, reduction of waste should also be seriously studied because “it is possible to reduce waste. It had been done before,” she said.
The DPS has been asked to provide her with a complete breakdown of the cost of the number of employees involved in garbage collection, the fuel for the garbage equipment and trucks, tipping fees and hauling fees.
“What is the total cost in other words of the garbage collection and disposal of the garbage, because maybe we will be having it privatized,” she added.
Osmeña also discovered that there is no employee from city hall to check the actual weighing of garbage at Consolacion. In 2012, the City paid P700 per ton. The cost has more than doubled today, at P1,500 per ton.
Osmeña will also review the contract of Consolacion landfill and contract of the hauler.
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