Rama urges NBI to hasten inquiry into Cebu City’s garbage deal

CEBU City Mayor Michael “Mike” Rama is now asking the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI 7) to hasten its investigation regarding the City’s P383 million garbage collection deal.

This after the Commission on Audit (COA) questioned the City’s multi-million deal with Docast Construction and JJ & J Construction and General Supply for the collection of garbage in 2021.

Rama told SunStar Cebu in an interview Sunday, July 24, 2022 that the NBI 7 must be aware of the urgency of the matter and his request for fast-tracking investigation should be acted upon immediately.

Rama said his office has already sought the help of the NBI 7 to shine a light on the questioned deal of the Cebu City Government.

The state auditors flagged the deal for many reasons, one of which is that the two companies failed to meet the City’s requirements, and they were therefore ineligible to provide the service.

Another issue raised by COA is that the firms started hauling garbage even before the city’s Bids and Awards Committee conducted the post-qualification stage.

State auditors were also able to uncover that the two companies’ primary business is not logistics or hauling services—they found out that the two firms’ main businesses involved construction and general supply.

According to Rama, he will deliver COA’s audit report to the NBI 7 so the agency will know the impartial assessment of the state auditors.

Rama said he was then the vice mayor when the deal was signed and he had already noticed that the deal would jeopardize the garbage collection program of the Cebu City Government. At the time, the mayor was Edgardo Labella.

The mayor added that he has to check on what company is now being employed by the City for its garbage collection.

Although the mayor cannot assure of zero corruption, Rama said his administration will start with clear leadership with him as the city mayor.

“We will start right,” Rama said, adding that his administration “cannot completely” assure the public of “zero corruption” but “there will definitely be a better picture with respect to transparency and accountability.” (IRT)