Baguio City’s P85 million PEZA share ‘to go to waste’

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – The P85 million share of the city government from the operation of the Baguio City Economic Processing Zone (BCEPZ) might literally go to waste as acting city mayor Daniel Farinas affirmed on Wednesday plans to devote said fund for expenses related to solid waste management, it being the city’s priority concern at present.

            

During the Ugnayang Panlungsod press briefing last Wednesday, Farinas said Mayor Mauricio Domogan has suggested allocating the amount for waste disposal particularly for hauling and tipping services which command big sums.

City general services officer Romeo Concio earlier revealed that the city needs about P84 million every year to finance hauling, tipping and miscellaneous expenses.

            

The mayor earlier assured that the long-awaited fund will be dispensed with proper consultation with the city council.

            

Farinas said he expects that the mayor’s suggestion will be received by the city council without much difficulty as everyone is aware of the urgency of the waste problem.  

            

“I for one am with the mayor on this concern because we cannot deny that solid waste management is our primary concern at present.  We cannot take for granted our cleanliness and sacrifice the health and safety of our constituents,” Farinas said.

            

“It’s true that we are spending too much on solid waste but if we will not do it then what will happen to our city?  What we need is political will to do this and we will not just stand there and watch our city go filthy and unsanitary,” he added.

            

After a long wait, the city will soon receive P85 million share from the  BCEPZ operations after Dept. of Budget Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio Abad ordered the DBM Cordillera to release of the amount.

The amount is part of the P125 million that the city is collecting from the national government from the tax payments of business locators operating at the Loakan and Camp John Hay economic zones. – A Refuerzo