NOT only flies are buzzing around growing mounds of filthy matter within the city, it residents and visitors do seem to continuously chat about garbage and garbage material.

Now who could blame locals to notice and endlessly nag on the "stinking" concern of the City of Pines... uncollected garbage on the streets. As in any other area, unmanaged trash has the potential to "topple like domino tiles."

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Aside from being disgusting eye-sores, these piles of garbage spread germs, bacteria,...and disease. Actually no less than the local health office indicated that uncollected trash may be indirectly connected to the top ten causes of mortality for the year. Should the foul-smelling concern be left unanswered, then it would definitely escalate to an alarming level. Disease and epidemics are not far behind.

Losing the opportunity to host the National Ad Congress by reason of calamity is one thing; decreased luster as a main tourist attraction due to uncollected and scattered garbage is another story.

With the peak season fast approaching, how the "#@*$" could we possibly boost tourism in the locality if the locality is slowly being dubbed as "City of Baguio"..."City of Basura"?

Another aspect of the concern is definitely the financial burden attached to it.

Millions have already been spent, while millions more of taxpayers' money is direly needed to arrest the "stinking" pest of a problem" which seems to breathe and have a life of its own.

Honestly, my inclinations agree with the recommendation that a private and independent auditor be hired to assess all the expenses incurred by the locality with regards to garbage.

This exercise however should be as transparent as possible. It would actually work both ways; it may remove doubts on whether the people's money was spent wisely; or expose over-spending, which may have resulted from the so-called SOPs (Special Obscene Payments) or HCs (hidden commissions).

Perhaps inquiries may also be conducted on the manner of how certain initial negotiations related to the issue were handled. This would surely cast away doubts and clarify "gossips" regarding "indecent brokering" of certain personalities.

It may be a splendid idea to publicly post of ALL expenses incurred on ALL programs, projects, and undertakings, which involve taxpayers' money...,all the way down to the last centavo. This way, questionable, doubtful, or over-priced services and expenses will be open for the public to scrutinize, study, and take action on (if any).

Taking us back to the topic at hand, here are a few observations and suggestions from some locals whom I had a chance to chat with recently:
Why not provide all, if not the majority of barangays in the city with their own dump trucks or Elf trucks for the purpose of garbage collection. This would ensure the consistent collection of trash as scheduled. The move will also provide barangays to better police residents in terms of proper garbage segregation.

Since recyclables may be converted into funds and bio-degradables into organic products, why not come up with a system wherein properly segregated trash would be weighed and paid in dumpsites, landfills, or processing areas upon dumping.
If it is rather impossible to locate and negotiate for an ESL site with specifications prescribed, then perhaps smaller ones in strategic areas be identified and established.

It may be better if hectares wide of open spaces be maintained between any ESL or controlled dumpsite and residential communities as to avoid complications related to community acceptance, or the sort. These spaces may actually be utilized for re-greening or reforestation purposes.

Everything said, the bottom line of the matter is: Either the city arrests the garbage problem, or the garbage problem will "arrest" the city.

Amusingly bothersome isn't it? For locals to be chatting about the garbage issue instead of the holiday and peak season with a little more than a month to go before Christmas.