ABC asks for 1 garbage truck for each barangay in Talisay

WITH the implementation of the “no segregation, no collection” policy in their city starting next month, a Talisay City official wants to provide incentives, including fuel allocation, to the barangays in next year’s annual budget.

As the City readies for its test implementation of the new solid waste management policy on Sept. 1, Talisay City Administrator Richel Bacaltos raised the need to provide fuel allowance to barangays with garbage trucks.

Bacaltos, who chairs the local finance committee, said Talisay City Budget Officer Ed Mabunay has been informed of the request of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president Charles Basillote to provide each barangay with a garbage truck, along with a monthly subsidy of P5,000 for fuel and maintenance.

Out of the 22 barangays in the city, only 15 have garbage trucks of their own.

Bacaltos said they will probably give the barangays the fuel subsidy to further improve their garbage collection.

Increase

He added that there is a possibility that the P5,000 fuel subsidy might increase, depending on the scope of the barangay’s area of jurisdiction.

The “no segregation, no collection” policy will undergo a test implementation starting Sept. 1. Barangays Pooc, Poblacion, Lawaan III and Bulacao will serve as pilot areas for the implementation of the policy.

For his part, Basillote said it was high time the City implemented a better solid waste management scheme after they conducted a city-wide information campaign.

Basillote, who attended last week’s meeting with the Solid Waste Management Team, said there is a need for garbage segregation so that the city can fully utilize its sanitary landfill.

Based on Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2001, all households, as well as commercial and business establishments, are required to segregate biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes and place them in separate garbage bags, which are collected within a weekly basis.