BACOLOD City – The city government here has imposed a P1.068-million fine on IPM-Construction and Development Corporation (IPM-CDC) for violating provisions of its contract for garbage hauling services.
IPM-CDC serves as the city’s environmental and sanitary services contractor, with a contract worth over P303 million for the period of February 1 to December 31, 2025. The agreement covers the volume-based collection and hauling of garbage, with a daily maximum of 400 tons.
Councilor Homer Bais, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) Committee on Environment and Ecology, conducted a committee conference on July 29 to review the contractor’s performance. The inquiry stemmed from recent flooding incidents in the city, which were partly blamed on uncollected garbage clogging drainage systems.
“We want more transparency in the contractor’s operations,” Bais said, emphasizing that the city has every right to demand accountability.
According to City Legal Officer Atty. Karol Joseph Chiu, the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) has already served a notice of violations to IPM-CDC.
Chiu cited two major infractions: failure to provide waste shredders in the city’s three major public markets, a key requirement for managing non-biodegradable waste; and restricted access to the GPS tracking system, which hinders the city’s ability to monitor the movement of garbage collection trucks.
He explained that the fine was computed based on daily penalties for these violations, eventually totaling over a million pesos.
“We must ensure IPM’s compliance with the agreement entered into with the city,” Chiu stressed, calling for proactive and transparent waste management strategies moving forward.
He also underscored the importance of the GPS system, which remains inaccessible to the city despite repeated requests.
The fine reflects growing frustration with IPM-CDC’s performance. Mayor Greg Gasataya had earlier urged the company to improve its garbage collection route plan, warning the contractor to “shape up or ship out.”
IPM-CDC’s management is scheduled to attend a conference with the City Legal Office today, August 1, to address the violations and discuss corrective measures./PN
