Workers fined for recklessness in garbage collection

CEBU, Philippines- At least 105 garbage truck drivers and loaders were issued citation tickets by Cebu City Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Team for their failure to segregate garbage and cover their trucks properly.

CESET head Grace Luardo said 33 personnel are assigned at the City Hall’s Department of Public Services and 72 are assigned in different barangays in the city.

“Atong gidakop kay wala ga-segregate sa basura and walay trapal ang ilang garbage truck. Under City Ordinance 2031, dapat dili mangolekta og basura kon wala pa na-segregate ug dapat totally covered ang garbage truck kay ang tendency ana mangahulog ang mga basura kon kusog mopadagan ang driver,” she said.

Luardo said CESET started looking into these concerns on February 26 after receiving complaints that sacks of garbage were seen in the city’s streets, reportedly falling off the trucks.

“Ka-receive mig tawag nga naay mga sako nga sulod kay basura unya we received reports nga nangahulog ni sa mga garbage trucks,” she said.

All 105 personnel have been fined P500 as settlement fee for violating the C.O. 2031.

“Naa nay mga driver nga nianhi sa office nanghangyo nga dili lang unta magpabayad kay kauban ra sa City Hall, pero dili mana pwede dapat atong pabayron kay atong i-disiplina maski City Hall employee,” Luardo said.

If the personnel fail to pay the fee, they may face charges in court or be required to do community service for seven days.

“Mas nindot kon i-settle dayon na nila ang violation para wala nay problema. Kon wala’y ikabayad, pwede ra mag-community service. Mas dali kon i-settle kaysa makasuhan nato sila,” Luardo said.

She urged all City Hall personnel and barangay workers assigned in collecting garbage to follow the ordinance.

“Dili man ta mo-ila bisag City Hall pa na. Awhag lang nato nila nga follow lang gyod sa ordinance and dili mokuha og wala na-segregate nga mga basura kay tinud-on man gyod nato og implement ang ordinance para ma-disiplina,” she said.  (FREEMAN)