BACOLOD CITY – A Luzon-based consortium bagged the two service contracts for this highly urbanized city’s solid waste management operations, amounting to almost P437 million for 2026.

The joint venture comprises the International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist Inc. (I-SWIMS), a company located in San Juan City; the D.C. Sandil Construction and Realty Development Inc., and the San Igmedio Builders Inc., both based in Rodriguez, Rizal.

In an interview on Tuesday, Mayor Greg Gasataya said the service contracts are being finalized after the City Council granted him the authority to sign on behalf of the city government during a special session on Monday.

“The request was urgent and crucial to ensure the continuity of garbage collection services and to sustain the city’s cleanliness and environmental protection efforts,” he said.

The service contracts, covering January to December 2026, include P327.9 million for garbage collection, hauling, and disposal; and P109 million for environmental and sanitary services, including the operation and maintenance of the sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa.

Current contractor IPM Construction and Development Corp. (CDC), whose contract runs until Dec. 31, 2025, offered the lowest calculated bid for the collection and disposal component, but was disqualified following the post-qualification proceedings on Dec. 19.

In a statement, the city government said the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) reported that IPM-CDC refused to undergo post-qualification evaluation and failed to refute the committee’s findings, particularly on deficiencies in the submission of proof of ownership of hauling equipment.

Consequently, the BAC recommended awarding the contract to I-SWIMS, the second lowest bidder, on Dec. 26.

According to the city government, I-SWIMS has served 17 local government units and operates several sanitary landfills in Luzon.

In a statement, Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. said that despite voting for the granting of the authority to Gasataya to sign the contracts, he still believes "the city government should manage and implement garbage collection."

"In the absence of viable alternatives, however, I took an affirmative stand in allowing private entities to continue as garbage collectors. Otherwise, Bacolod City would be placed under a serious public health hazard brought about by uncollected waste," he said.

Meanwhile, Allyn Luv Dignadice, officer-in-charge of Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office, said she "looks forward to more efficient services given the new private contractor’s track record as a reliable solid waste management service provider in the country.”