Valenzuela takes pride in its trash collection system

THE Valenzuela City government is the only local government unit in Metro Manila that does not hire private contractors to haul garbage from the city’s 33 villages, Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian said.

Mayor Gatchalian told The Manila Times that the city government just acquired 25 brand-new dump trucks, each worth almost P2 million.

”Only [a] few months ago, we procured 38 units and now we have 25 new dump trucks, all worth P125 million, that would regularly collect the garbage all over the city’s 33 villages,” he said.

Overall, the local government has a fleet of 106 dump trucks that are under the management of the city’s Waste Management Division (WMD).

Gatchalian also announced that he had already approved an increase in salary and hazard pay, as well as PhilHealth coverage for truck drivers and other personnel involved in waste collection.

The city government said that from P425.45 daily, a truck helper’s salary was adjusted to P522, and their hazard pay was raised to P63.80 from P46.80.

Meanwhile, truck driver’s salary has gone up to P557.91 from P528.55, and the hazard pay from P54.08 to P73.75, it added.

Meanwhile, Gatchalian appealed to the “Valenzuelanos” to be more cooperative by taking their garbage to designated areas based only on schedules set in every village.

With a total of 106 dump trucks, the WMD can now deliver more prompt and reliable waste collection services that are specifically catering to the demands of the “Pamilyang Valenzuelano,” he said.

According to the WMD, waste collections are conducted twice daily on all major roads, once daily on all secondary roads and twice a week on all inner roads.

Aside from the dump trucks, the city government has also acquired three heavy equipment units that will be used to remove obstructions, especially along major thoroughfares.

“We can proudly say that we are not dependent on contractors because I believe we are the only ones in Metro Manila who are operating OUR OWN WASTE MANAGEMENT OFfiCE,” Gatchalian said.

Moreover, the Valenzuela mayor said they have set up several closedcircuit television cameras in strategic areas to detect people who are unlawfully tossing garbage into public streets and roads.