Pesquera checks ownership of vehicles rented by the city

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera is giving the Land Transportation Office the list of trucks rented by the city government to check whether these vehicles are registered under the name of the supplier.

Pesquera said she already gave the instruction to her staff to send the list to the LTO-7.

“It is very important that the supplier owns the vehicles they leased out to the city government because in case of vehicular accidents, the city cannot go after the owner of the leased vehicles, if these are owned by third parties,” she said.

Pesquera, however, admitted she has yet to verify whether or not the city government, specifically members of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), has liability if the trucks are found out to be not owned by the supplier.

The city government started renting heavy equipment in October 2017 to improve the garbage collection. Pasajero Motors Corporation (Pamocor) rented out heavy equipment from October to December 2017. The same contractor won the bidding from January to July this year.

At present, Geo Transport and Construction Inc. is supplying equipment to the city since August this year. The city is renting at least 10 compactor trucks and 11 dump trucks which are running 24 hours.

These trucks will transport garbage from the barangay to the private transfer station in Barangay Inayawan. From the transfer station, the contractor is also responsible in hauling the garbage to the final disposal site.

Under the contract, the supplier has to provide reserve trucks to ensure continuity of the operation.

Meanwhile, the City Council has commended the Department of Public Services and the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources (CCENRO) for the installation of biofences.

The resolution was sponsored by Councilor Joel Garganera, former chairman of the committee on environment.

The biofencing project was launched on September 15 at the Pasil Fish Port. Biofence is made of discarded plastic bottles. It prevents trash from being washed into the rivers and oceans. (FREEMAN)