Ways and means committee tackles garbage fee collections

THE City Council committee on ways and means chaired by Councilor George S. Goking met yesterday with representatives from the City Treasurer’s Office, CLENRO, City Administrator’s Office and from the business sector to discuss among others the status on the collection of garbage fee of the city.

At the meeting, the a representative of the City Treasurer’s Office said that there was a total of P37M garbage fees collected thru business permits in 2017.

However, there was a query from the business sector as to why the residents, particularly those living in subdivisions, are exempted from payment of garbage fees.

Apparently, this is due to the fact that there is no existing city ordinance that was enacted for this purpose. “Naay uban LGU gakolekta sa garbage fees based on assessment value sa mga residential buildings o balay, pero kinahanglan man nato ang ordinance ug dili pwede diretso kita mangolekta, so sa pagkakaron thru business permit ra gyud kita makapangolekta,” the City Treasurer’s Office representative clarified.

Consequently, a representative from CLENRO manifested that they have submitted their proposed ordinance entitled Integrated Solid Waste Management Ordinance which contains a provision that the collection of garbage fee must be based on volume and type.

This is in response to most complaints usually forwarded to their office. “Kay di man pwede nga mata-matahon nga in-ani kadaghan ang basura mao ni iyang bayronon,” said the representative. The matter is already set on its second hearing in the committee on environment, chaired by Councilor Zaldy O. Ocon, The Power learned.

These and other concerns will be set for another round of discussion anytime soon. (JAO)