THE Bacolod City Council approved the 10-month contract of services of the city’s current garbage hauler IPM-Construction and Development Corporation (IPM-CDC) for collection, hauling, and disposal of garbage and solid waste management.
The contract was approved during the regular session on Wednesday, January 30.
Councilor Caesar Distrito, chairperson of the City Council committee on laws, said they also approved the request of Mayor Evelio Leonardia for authority to sign the P165 million contract between the city government and IPM-CDC.
Those who supported the move were Councilors Distrito, Cindy Rojas, Dindo Ramos, Em Ang, Renectio Novero, Elmer Sy, Bartolome Orola, Ann Marie Palermo, Sonya Verdeflor, Ayesha Villaflor, Lady Gles Gonzales-Pallen, and Wilson Gamboa Jr.
Councilor Claudio Puentevella voted against it while Councilor Ricardo Tan was absent.
“We had approved the contract after the IPM-CDC was the winner in the bidding which was conducted by the Bids and Awards Committee, all the procedures were followed because we have to see to it that the requirements of the Procurement Law have been complied with,” Distrito said.
At present, the city government is paying P16 million per month for garbage hauling and collection services.
“We find it cheaper (current contract) than the previous contractor of the city which they paid P30 million a month for the collection, hauling, and disposal of garbage and solid waste management,” Distrito said.
For his part, Puentevella said he opposed the renewal of IPM-CDC’s contract because it is really a disadvantage to the people of Bacolod.
He said the City Government will be paying at least P500,000 a day to the garbage hauler.
“This is disadvantageous to the city because we are paying a big amount to the IPM-CDC and their services are not sufficient to collect all the garbage here,” he added. (MAP)