Frasco parries attacks on alleged garbage problem inaction

CEBU, Philippines — Liloan Mayor Christina Garcia Frasco has laid down a detailed report on how her administration has addressed the town’s garbage problem following accusations of her inactions.

Frasco said that over the past two weeks, six of the eight garbage trucks of the municipality broke down due to wear and tear, given the daily rounds in collecting the garbage of the population of over 147,830 people.

Data from the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office show that Liloan generates 42.3 tons of biodegradable, recyclable, and residual waste per day.

That is 84,600 pounds of garbage every single day generated by 34,379 households and over 5,000 establishments.

Frasco said that since the local government unit has been left with only two running garbage trucks, she has directed the adding of two municipal-funded trucks and has requested her mother, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, to let them borrow from the Capitol and the latter has lent two trucks.

Frasco also requested her husband, Fifth District Congressman Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco, to help the municipality and through the latter’s efforts, six trucks have been provided.

The mayor has assured that an additional 12 trucks will be made available and running for garbage collection, so that they are able to collect the backlog and totally resolve the issue by Friday this week, the latest.

Frasco has also augmented at least 20 of their municipal personnel to help the existing personnel in garbage collection, and they will be purchasing more garbage trucks while ensuring the expeditious repair of existing ones.

Since she started as mayor in 2016, Frasco said Solid Waste Management and Environment Sustainability have been of upmost priority to her administration.

They implemented the “No Plastic Days and Market Day for Recyclables” and they have mandated the segregation at source and collection by the barangays of biodegradable waste, as provided for under RA 9003.

They have closed down their dumpsite and have since deposited their waste at the landfill in Consolacion. They put up the Liloan ACTS hotline for garbage and flooding concerns, and mandated the putting up of Material Recovery Facilities in all the 236 puroks.

Frasco has also implemented the basket bottle recycling program in all public schools, updated the equipment of street cleaners, and conducted massive Information Education Campaign among residents of all puroks and subdivisions on the importance of segregation, recycling, and reduction of waste.

The municipality also purchased machines that would convert plastics into ingredients for bricks and cement blocks, engaged in conversion of waste to fertilizer for all bio waste in the public market, and before the end of the year, Frasco said they will have a new waste conversion machine for bio and non-bio waste, courtesy of Governor Garcia.

To date, they have also planted over 115,000 trees.

“Despite all of the above, I have been viciously attacked by certain individuals in the past few days hurling baseless accusations and allegations of inaction. I will let my record speak for itself,” Frasco said.

“We, in your local government, are doing everything in our power to manage the waste, but this is obviously a monumental task that involves both waste generation and waste management. We cannot do this alone,” she added.

Frasco said her administration has consistently requested the barangay captains since 2016, and she reiterated her request to fulfill their duty under RA 9003 to collect biodegradable waste from their own barangays and to ensure segregation at source.

She also urged the 236 puroks and the over 2,300 purok officers to continue to ensure the functionality of their MRFs.

“Finally, I request my fellow Liloanons to practice self-discipline in waste recycling, disposal and segregation, and to reduce waste in your own homes and establishments. With your help, we can resolve this momentary challenge. Let us start helping each other instead of tearing each other down. Let us come together as a community and show our love for Liloan by doing our share in this joint responsibility,” Frasco said. (FREEMAN)