Bidding made for garbage fee, city says

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu City government has bid out a project worth P47 million for its garbage disposal services in anticipation of the approval of the Supplemental Budget – 1, said Department of Public Services Head Rolando Ardosa.

Based on a document from the city’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), the P47 million was bid out on September 3, 2015. However, Ardosa said it has been agreed with the winning bidder that the project would be awarded only when and if SB-1 would be approved.

The City Council deferred the approval of the P3.32 billion SB-1 until the court rules on the civil case that aims to stop the city from using money it earned from the sale of lots at the South Road Properties. 

Part of the P3.32 billion is the P81 million budget for garbage tipping fee, which will cover the cost from September to December this year.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella confirmed the city could not award the project to the eligible contractor just yet.

“I was informed that there was already a bidding process that happened and that there was already a winning bidder. However, it still cannot be awarded to the contractor since there is still no source of funds,” he said.

“One of the conditions for the issuance of the notice of award is the approval of the Supplemental Budget – 1,” Labella confirmed.

Cebu City Solid Waste Management Board Chairman Janesis Ponce also said the budget for the tipping fee hinges on the passage of SB-1.

The city encountered the same problem when the P51 million budget for the garbage tipping fee was exhausted in August this year. Ardosa said the city owes private haulers.

Garbage disposal especially in south district barangays has been affected when the Inayawan Sanitary landfill closed in January.

At present, the city pays P1,500 per ton to the private haulers to dispose of its garbage in  Consolacion town. An average of 300 tons of garbage is being transported in a day. — /JMO (FREEMAN)