CAGAYAN de Oro City Vice Mayor Jocelyn ‘Bebot” ‘Rodriguez on Friday said the collection of tipping fees by the city’s local environment and natural resources to private subdivisions and homeowners as "garbage fees" should be stopped, adding the city government is supposed to render these services for free.
The garbage tipping fees for solid waste from residential areas that the city implemented even required private garbage haulers to pay P533 per ton (for Elf, Mini Dump with three cubic meters of garbage) to as much as P3,318, it was reported.
Rodriguez said she already filed her proposed ordinance that amends sections of the city’s ordinance on Integrated Ecological Solid Waste Management.
She said the city government was requiring the private subdivisions to pay for the collection and proper disposal of their garbage for Rodriguez contradicted the existing city’s revenue code of 2015.
Rodriguez explained that the regular garbage fees collection, particularly specified in the section “(d),” stated that private individuals or government entities within Cagayan de Oro City voluntarily dispose of household garbage or refuse at the City’s Controlled Dumpsite using their trucks, vans or other vehicles and personnel shall be exempted from paying the fees specified above.
Based on the Morning Mist Village Homeowners Association letter to then-Mayor Oscar Moreno and the City Council, on February 15, 2019, the Clenro started collecting tipping fees for private subdivisions or homeowners on June 1, 2019.
To comment on the issue, this paper tried to contact the city’s treasurer official but only Clenro head Engr. Armen Cuenca’s statements through the City Council’s ‘Gavel’ confirmed that the city implemented tipping fee collection in January, this year but it has been suspended starting in March 2022.
Meanwhile, Under Republic Act 9003, local governments are primarily responsible for effective and efficient solid waste management, particularly garbage segregation and disposal, every local government is required to develop a 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan, including the establishment of materials recovery facilities, and sanitary landfills.
“Why should residents pay for a service that the government is obligated to provide,” Rodriguez asked.
Rodriguez reiterated that the collection of tipping fees by the city to the private subdivisions that lead to the collection and disposal of their waste in the sanitary landfill should be stopped.
Rodriguez presented her proposed ordinance that amends Section 27 of Ordinance No. 13378-2018 or Integrated Ecological Solid Waste Management of Cagayan de Oro City that imposes a tipping fee on homeowners and subdivisions who throw their waste in the landfill
“It is not reasonable to collect a tipping fee from homeowners or subdivisions who lead the collection of their garbage without costing the government,” Rodriguez added.
In Section 219 of the 2015 Revenue Code, it is stated that all private organizations or establishments that voluntarily dispose of their waste using their vehicles will no longer be charged a tipping fee while Section 27 of Ordinance No. 13378-2018 mandates the collection of tipping fees for all private haulers or individuals who throw garbage in the landfill.
The vice mayor also explained that the provision of the two ordinances contradicts, the reason why it is appropriate to cancel the imposition of tipping fees because it has caused more burden to the people.
“It is only appropriate to congratulate them and give them a lasting incentive because of their collection and management of waste without costing the city,” said Rodriguez.
Meanwhile, Committee on Environment chair Roger Abaday expressed his great support for the move to amend the ordinance for that purpose.
“The collected fees will be placed in a special account to be used “solely for garbage collections and the sanitary maintenance,” said Abaday.
Abaday added that a part of the fund will also be used by the barangays that have undertaken projects, technologies, or activities (promoting) the reuse, recycling, and reduction of garbage.
