Tuesday, August 26, 2008 Bingo trucks up for auction? By Rimaliza Opiña
THE leadership of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) is planning to auction the mini dump trucks bought by past officials of the association because some parts are deteriorating and the vehicles are not registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
The five trucks were divided for the use of the 20 barangay districts of Baguio supposedly to augment the garbage collection in the city since May, but not one of the districts attempted to use the trucks, said ABC president Councilor Joel Alangsab.
Joel Alangsab said because the trucks have been left exposed to the elements at the Baguio Convention Center compound, some parts or even the trucks themselves showed signs of deterioration. Having been bought "second-hand," aggravated its present condition, the councilor added.
"The trucks were already overused when they were bought," he said.
Aside from this, barangays have to share for the maintenance and fuel costs, the P7,000 registration fee also has to be shouldered by them.
The mini dump trucks plus one tourist bus was bought from the proceeds of the controversial bingo sa barangay, dubbed by many as another version of the poor man's lottery, jueteng.
At the height of the garbage crisis, barangay officials broached the idea of utilizing these trucks to haul garbage to La Trinidad, one of the sites then identified as a possible dumping area.
Initially, Alangsab said the City Administrator's Office agreed to shoulder registration fees but this plan did not materialize because the local government of La Trinidad did not agree with the city plan, and the City Government later on inked a deal with private haulers to transport the trash to Tarlac.
The ABC board has yet to decide on the plan to auction the trucks. Alangsab said the Board of Directors is divided over the issue, some favor selling the trucks and purchasing a single but newer one while some prefer to operate the vehicles after they are properly registered.
Alangsab said he plans to inform the board for them to set a deadline when barangay districts can begin taking over the trucks. If none will come forward, he said this should serve as a signal for them to take the necessary action.
Meanwhile, Alangsab appealed to local haulers to impose a regular garbage collection schedule. This, as he said the Thursday, Friday and Saturday collection schedules are not being strictly followed.
He said barangay officials and households are now complaining that waste continues to pile up because of the inconsistent schedules.
