Labella: Allies or not, barangays to get fuel hike

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said he will increase the fuel allocation for the city’s garbage trucks to improve the efficiency of collection of garbage in the barangays.

This after some barangay captains expressed that the low fuel allocation for their garbage trucks has affected the frequency of collection.

Labella said the barangays, including those belonging to the opposition, will only have to send him a request stating that they want an increase in the fuel allocation.

The mayor reiterated that the barangays are primarily responsible for the trash found in their interior portions.

“Because the duty of the city government is to clear all the garbage along the city streets... but in so far as the garbage within the inner portions of the barangays, that’s the job of the barangays,” said Labella.

Labella said the majority of the P5 million financial assistance for the barangays should be allocated for garbage collection.

“I have reminded them that there is a provision on RA 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act) that they have to comply with the mandate that they should clear their barangay of rubbish otherwise they could be held liable on that,” he said.

The city government will give P5 million financial assistance to all the 80 barangays that they can use to purchase garbage trucks and other vehicles needed in their day-to-day operations.

Talamban Barangay Captain Dario Arcilla sent a November 13 letter to Labella requesting that the barangay’s previous fuel allocation of 550 liters per month for each of their two garbage trucks be reverted. He said 1,100 liters fuel allocation is needed per month.

Arcilla said the fuel allocation for their garbage was recently slashed from 550 liters to 250 liters per month.

He added that barangay council supports Labella’s call for the massive clean-up drive implementation.

Labella, meanwhile, vowed that his administration will not politicize the delivery of services.

“When it comes to garbage, when it comes to flooding, and everything that involves public interest and public welfare... there is no politics for me. Our governance is inclusive,” said Labella. /JMD (FREEMAN)