‘Environmental disaster’ looms in Baguio over trash hauling contract

No sked for bidding of multi-million venture 

BAGUIO CITY – An “environmental disaster” is looming in this city since the contract of the city government and private garbage hauler is due to expire by December and bidding to haul tons of waste daily out from this city hasn’t been done yet.   

The local government is inclined to bid out the multi-million hauling of the city’s residual waste to the sanitary landfill in Capas, Tarlac.

It is set to invite interested haulers to participate in the bidding to lower hauling cost of the city’s residual waste.

Eugene D. Buyucan, officer-in-charge of the City General Services office, told city councilors he already prepared the purchase request for the hauling of the city’s residual waste to Capas, Tarlac and submitted the same to the bids and awards committee (BAC) for scheduling of bidding.

However, he said since he is not a member of the BAC, he cannot predict when the bidding would be held.

Buyucan said bidders must comply with terms of reference for the hauling wherein haulers must have their own staging areas or transfer station which have been issued the required permits by the environment department and the host local governments.

The local government is set to bid out the hauling of the city’s residual waste outside the city in the light of the compromise agreement entered into by the existing hauler, MA Camilo Trucking and Freight Services, and the petitioners who filed for the issuance of a temporary environment protection order (TEPO) against the use of its current transfer station in Lamtang, Puguis, La Trinidad, Benguet that the operation of the said staging area will only be until Dec. 22.

Currently, the local government is hauling out some 160 to 170 tons of residual waste from its transfer station to the Capas sanitary landfill where some 32 trucks of the hauler are being used to bring the garbage outside the city.

Buyucan said he will follow up the schedule of bidding with the BAC. He cited the city council for passing a resolution strongly urging the BAC to immediately schedule the bidding.

The city bid out the hauling of its residual waste in 2015 which resulted to the disqualification of an interested bidder because his transfer station in barangay Camp 7 was not issued the required environmental compliance certificate and the hauling contract was awarded to the existing hauler.

Buyucan admitted to city councilors hauling of the city’s residual waste outside the city is simply a temporary solution to the garbage disposal problem because the local government is setting its sights on the development of Benguet Corporation’s Antamok open pit site in nearby Itogon town to a waste-to-energy facility that could accommodate the city’s generated waste that will eventually put an end to the hauling of the garbage.  – With a report from Dexter A. See