BACOLOD City – To improve its sanitation services, the city government is now mandating that prospective contractors utilize three-wheeled motorized garbage collectors. This requirement is part of the new terms for the upcoming sanitary services contract.
Ma. Fe Tresfuentes, acting officer of the Department of Public Services (DPS), revealed that the city has already conducted a pre-procurement process.
Additionally, the current contract with IPM-Construction and Development Corp. (CDC) for managing and operating the Barangay Felisa sanitary landfill has been extended until April 30, 2024. This contract was initially set to expire on Dec. 31, 2023.
Furthermore, the city’s agreement with IPM-CDC for waste collection and disposal has received a one-month extension, now set to conclude at the end of this month.
Tresfuentes highlighted a crucial new requirement in the contract terms: contractors must possess a minimum of 20 three-wheeled motorized garbage collectors.
This specification aims to enhance waste collection efficiency, particularly in areas where larger dump trucks cannot reach, such as narrow roads and alleyways.
To facilitate this new system, the DPS plans to design transfer stations equipped with bins for temporary storage of waste collected by these motorized units. The collected garbage will then be transported by hook lift trucks to the Barangay Felisa landfill.
In a related development, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez announced the city’s ambitious goal to recycle 80 percent of its solid waste.
During a recent press conference, he emphasized the city’s transition from reliance on landfills to the establishment of advanced recycling facilities. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to create a circular waste management system where all disposed materials are recycled.
The mayor also mentioned an ongoing study to assess the city’s total waste generation. This study will provide crucial data on the daily volume and distribution of waste, enabling more effective and targeted waste collection strategies.
“We are committed to understanding the full scope of our waste generation to optimize our collection and recycling efforts,” Mayor Benitez said. (With additional reporting from PNA)/PN
