Garbage hauler gets contract extension

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government has extended the garbage hauling contract of Jomara Konstruckt Incorporated which expired on April 25 until a new contract is awarded by the Bids and Awards Committee to the winning bidder.

Department of Public Services assistant head John Paul Gelasque said they are now also utilizing their P12 million reserve fund to pay for the tipping fee because the P75-million budget has been depleted. Gelasque explained that the P75-million budget was only good from February to April 25.

“We decided to use the P12 million retention funds namo kay we cannot leave the garbage there, kinsa may mokolekta?” Gelasque said.

According to Gelasque, they are bidding out another P40 million contract to cover the month of May. The amount was realigned from the allocation for the rentals of equipment. The City Council approved the realignment of funds on April 18.

Ronaldo Malacora, chairman of the Bids and Awards Committee, said they have already started the bidding process. He said the opening of bid is scheduled on May 16.

The city government has engaged the services of private hauler to throw the garbage of the city to private landfills after the court has ordered the closure of the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill in December last year.

Since December, Jomara Konstruckt had been hauling the city’s trash for P1,350 per ton.

Meanwhile, DPS will hold a coastal cleanup today in Barangay Alaska Mambaling. Gelasque said they will be joined by the members of the badjao community in the area.

Gelasque said the city will give one can of sardines in exchange for every plastic of trash collected. He said the activity will open the Basura Mo, Sardinas Ko project of Mayor Tomas Osmeña for the badjaos to encourage them to clean the coastal areas.

Gelasque said they will do it regularly to help the community.]

The Basura Mo, Sardinas Ko project started in February. This was piloted in Barangays Cogon Pardo and Lahug.

The city government had purchased P5-million worth of sardines under its Accelerated Social Amelioration Program. It is an adaptation of the program of Curitiba in Brazil. (FREEMAN)