Gan seeks probe into city hall’s trash collection deal

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

COUNCILOR Leon Gan has called for an investigation into the collection of garbage in the city, saying he has yet to see a copy of any contract between the local government and the firm that’s doing the collections.

Gan has asked Councilor Dometilo Acenas Jr., chairman of the city council’s environment committee, to take the lead in the investigation to determine exactly where city hall has been sourcing funds to pay the firm IPM Construction and Development Corp. for its garbage collection services.

Gan said the city council has never authorized Mayor Oscar Moreno to enter into a contract with IPM. Neither has the city council approved any contract between the Moreno administration and the firm, he said.

Vice Mayor Caesar Ian Acenas called on Vice Mayor-elect Joaquin Uy and the next city council to look into city hall’s deal with IPM.

Edwin Dael, chief of the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro), dismissed Gan’s allegation. “Dili  man tino-od nang iya ni  Kagawad Gan. Dili man mahimo nga walay kontrata kay ma-Ombudsman man ta ana,” Dael said.

Councilor Teodulfo  Lao Jr. said what he knows is that the Moreno administration merely followed the set-up city hall had with Basura at Iba Pa, the firm that handled the garbage collection services during the Emano administration.

Lao said that by the time Moreno took over as mayor in 2013,  the city council already approved a contract.

Lao said there was no new contract.

“Iya man lang  gipadayon… iya lang gipulihan ang ngalan sa garbage collector,” said Lao, adding that the terms and conditions of the agreement were unchanged.