Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said he is pushing for the privatization of garbage collection in Bacolod City because he believes that it is a step towards the right direction.

He also said he is hopeful the privatization could start by January but as with all similar government transactions this will have to undergo the bidding process and may take time, he said.

“The way I see it, the earliest we could have one is in the first quarter of next year, and that is, if this will have the support of our officials,” he added.

Leonardia said one of the arguments why the collection of garbage should be privatized, is that matters like maintenance of garbage trucks could be easily addressed. Just the purchase of spare parts or tires takes some time to process in government, he said.

Upon his arrival from the United States, Leonardia said he met with the budget people and they have already resolved the problem of uncollected garbage. They want to make sure that this situation will not recur until the year end, he said.

“Our major concern is how to normalize garbage collection at the soonest possible time,” Leonardia said.

Given the possibility that some dumptrucks will malfunction, he suggested to the Department of Public Services to ask for assistance from the private citizens to lend their vehicles at no cost to the city for the next few days, he said.

So far, Councilors Em Legaspi-Ang, Roberto Rojas and Al Victor Espino have offered their vehicles, he added.

Leonardia explained that one of the factors that has affected their funding is the Department of Interior and Local Government circular which implemented new requirements on the use of the 20 percent Annual Investment Plan.

He said he has requested for its suspension until January 1 in order not to upset the situation of Bacolod.

Apparently, other mayors also complained, he said, and the DILG later withdrew its order and informed them only in October that the AIP can be used, but the disturbance had already been created.

Leonardia said that because of the DILG circular, their funds had dwindled towards the fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, Leonardia said only those barangays who have not complied with the requirements did not avail of the Solid Waste Management Fund.

This was his in reaction to the statement of Barangay Captain Anthony Jose Ayco of Brgy. 15, who questioned the non-implementation of City Ordinance No. 479, which, he said, could have helped address the garbage collection problem in the city.

Leonardia said the city has allocated a budget for the SWM program for the barangays. But there are certain requirements they should comply with first, he said.

Perhaps those barangays who have received their share have complied with the requirements, while those who failed to comply did not receive theirs, Leonardia said.

He said he has discussed the review of the SWM program with Councilor Mona Dia Jardin, Association of Barangay Captains president, and they hope to give the segregation program another try. “If we cannot perfect it, at least there will be substantial compliance”, he said.

Leonardia said Bacolod is one of the first few cities to have complied with the SWM program which is one of the requirements of R.A. 9003, or the Solid Waste management Act*CGS

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