DPS eyes procurement of 21 compactor trucks

CEBU, Philippines — To lessen the Cebu City government’s expenses in the collection and disposal of garbage, the Department of Public Services has proposed to buy 21 compactor trucks next year.

DPS assistant department head John Paul Gelasque said the city government is spending almost P500 million to dispose over 200,000 tons of garbage this year because it has ventured to privatize its collection and disposal.

Gelasque said P133.67 million was allocated for the rental of garbage trucks and P286.8 million was budgeted for the hauling of garbage. Gelasque said the city government can save if it buys its own compactor trucks. He said the 21 compactor trucks will cost the city P232 million.

“Before, naay mga plano unsaon makabarato ang city. Nakarealize ang current administration nga mas maayo mopalit og trucks kay mao ni ang one time big time purchase sa capital outlay but along the way makabarato nata kay wala nay rental ug transfer station,” he said.

Gelasque defended the proposed P692 million budget of the DPS next year, which include the P498 million for garbage collection. Councilor Margarita Osmeña said the P498 million for garbage collection next year is too high compared to the P420 million this year.

 “Our garbage budget is really high. It’s half a billion,” Osmeña said.

She said that the amount is already six percent of the proposed P8.1 billion annual budget of Cebu City next year. The councilor said the public should be made to understand why the budget is very high.

Answering her own question, Osmeña said it’s high because the P498 million already includes the purchase of 21 compactor trucks and everything about the garbage collection except for the fuel allocation.

DPS has proposed P201.3 million for garbage collection, P64.5 million rental of garbage trucks, P232.5 million purchase of compactor trucks, among others for next year. Gelasque explained that there will still be equipment rental for the first six months next year while the procurement of garbage trucks is being done.

For this year, the city has spent P420 million for its garbage collection and disposal since it is renting trucks for garbage collection as well as hiring private contractor to haul and dispose the garbage.

For 2019, Gelasque said the DPS is proposing that it will purchase 21 compactor trucks at P11 million each. Gelasque assured that after this year, the city will be spending less for garbage already. —  FPL (FREEMAN)