Cagayan de Oro assures continous garbage collection after collector's contract expires
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The city government has assured continuous garbage collection after the current garbage collector’s contract expires on Jan. 31.

Engr. Armen Cuenca, City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO) head, said they will again tap the vehicles and drivers of road and building contractors here to help the city government in garbage collection with CLENRO providing the manpower.
The CLENRO had utilized them recently due to the garbage collection problems encountered by many residents.
The incentive program of barangays has been amended to enable them to be paid if they collect and dispose of any type of garbage in the landfill.
“Before, if the barangay would dispose of residual garbage to the landfill, we would pay them P1.50 per kilo. However, now since it's an emergency, we relaxed the said policy. Now, we pay the barangay if they dispose of any kinds of garbage,” Cuenca said in the vernacular.
“As of now, almost 20 barangays that have vehicles are continuing in their garbage collection,” he added.
The bidding process for the new garbage contractor would probably be done in the first or second week of February, Cuenca said.
The CLENRO head explained that internal problems experienced by IPM Waste CDO contributed to the current garbage collection problem.
“Maybe the repair process of their (IPM Waste CDO) vehicles as they need permission from Manila; and many of their trucks have been bogged down. Those are the reasons why,” Cuenca also said in the vernacular, adding that he would prefer if the new contractor is based here.
The city government is currently preparing the necessary documents to publish the bidding in the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) – the single, centralized electronic portal that serves as the primary and definitive source of information on government procurement.
Cuenca said the bidding would probably be published next week.
With the ongoing problems in garbage collection, Cuenca urged the public to start segregating their garbage to avoid foul smell if the collection is delayed and further utilize recyclable materials.
“Firstly, we would like to apologize for the problem and we hope that with the new player, new contractor, we are able to improve the system in garbage collection,” Cuenca said.