CH eyes higher fees for garbage
The Cebu City government should impose higher garbage fees on big establishments that generate huge volumes of garbage, like malls, to lessen the city’s financial burden in garbage collection and disposal, said John Paul Gelasque, acting head of the city’s Department of Public Services.
“It will not decrease the volume of garbage (that we collect) but it will lessen our financial budget for the city government kay instead of we are the one paying for the garbage, they will be the one to pay for their garbage. So, minus sa atong part,” Gelasque told the City Council.
This year, the city government has allocated a total of P420 for garbage collection and disposal. Of this amount, P133.67 million went to the rental of garbage trucks and P286.8 million went to the hauling of garbage.
For next year, DPS proposed P201.3 million for garbage collection, P64.5 million for rental of garbage trucks, and P232.5 million for the purchase of 21 compactor trucks for the garbage collection and disposal.
Councilor Margarita Osmeña said the council will review Gelasque’s proposal, but told the DPS acting head:
“But I would like to look at it that you should look into the reduction of garbage so that over-all we will lessen our financial burden, it will also help the environment and it will help us the proper disposal and treatment of garbage,” she said.
Under City Ordinance 2018, aircraft, watercraft companies, and travel-related firms are charged at least P1,500 and up to P12,000 every year as garbage fee depending on the lot area of the establishment.
Casinos are charged P8,000 annual garbage fees while electric and power companies are charged at least P1,500 and up to P7,500.
Hospitals, medical clinics, and private medical institutions also pay garbage fees. They pay at least P1,500 and up to P9,000 depending on the bed capacity.
Hotels, apartels and the like are charged at least P30 and up to P125 per room every year while market stallholders are charged at least P365 and up to P1,500 every year, depending on the lot area.
Terminals are charged at least P365 and up to P4,000 every year, also depending on the lot area; restaurants are charged at least P730 and up to P5,000; and residential houses are charged at least P365 and up to P4,000.
City Treasurer Veronica Morelos said the lot area is a major factor considered in charging garbage fees, and not necessarily the actual garbage produced.
Morelos agreed that DPS should produce statistical records of how much garbage the city collects from big establishments.
“We will support kay mo-increase atong revenue, at the same time, dunay balance nga magasto nato sa garbage and at the same time mo-compensate sa increase,” she said.
There’s a pending proposal from Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera for the city to approve an ordinance that would allocate 30 percent of garbage fees collected by the city to the barangays as the latter help in the collection and disposal of wastes.
Morelos said her office also supports the proposal so that barangays will step up their efforts in collecting and disposing of garbage.