Philippines
Luzon
Village officials in Mandaue City cry foul over recall of garbage trucks, collectors
Village officials in Mandaue City cry foul over recall of garbage trucks, collectors
CEBU CITY – Officials of a barangay in Mandaue City, Cebu have cried foul over the recall of city-owned motor vehicles and city-paid job order employees for garbage disposal services.
JESUS Neri Jr., barangay captain of Guizo, Mandaue City, shows a pile of uncollected garbage in their barangay. (Calvin Cordova)
Barangay Guizo Captain Jesus Neri Jr. said the move of the city government, through city administrator James Calipayan, recalling the barangay’s two drivers and one garbage collector has severely affected its garbage collection.
“We only have one garbage truck and it cannot be avoided that there are times that it breaks down, that's why garbage is not collected timely,” Neri told reporters on Wednesday, September 11.
The vehicles and the workers were recalled by the city government on September 3.
With a population of more than 10,000 people with three major hospitals, hospitals, and a mall, Guizo needs to have adequate personnel and a working garbage truck to prevent uncollected garbage from piling up.
“Before Guizo had only 44.3 hectares but it has expanded to more than 80 hectares now,” said Neri.
Neri added that their workers tasked to collect garbage have complained of delayed salaries.
During the press briefing, Neri showed uncollected garbage that had piled up beside the barangay hall.
“We have a weekly clean up drive, we tried to ask assistance from the city but we were just told their garbage trucks are defective. So what can we do?” said Neri.
Neri described the recent move by the city government as political harassment.
“It is clear that what they did was political harassment,” said Neri, an ally of Mandaue Rep. Emmarie “Lollipop” Ouano.
Ouano is rumored to be running against Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes, who is currently serving a one-year suspension.
Neri said he has been bashed on social media for the uncollected garbage in the barangay.
“I have been repeatedly ridiculed on social media. I was accused of being remiss in my job. It was in 1997 when I first became a barangay captain here. I wouldn’t last this long if I was not doing my job well. It is not easy to manage a barangay,” said Neri.
Neri appealed to the city government, now headed by acting Mayor Glen Bercede, to reinstate the recalled job-order employees.
He also asked the city to fulfill its promise of helping the barangay in its garbage collection.