COSTLY TRASH BINS
GSO defends purchase of expensive but durable trash bins

By Jeehan V. Fernandez

Won't it “smell and look good” for a progressive city like Iloilo to have an “expensive yet durable” trash bins?

City Hall's General Services Office (GSO)-Office of Public Services (OPS) head Engr. Raul T. Gallo stressed it is but proper for the city being a highly-urbanized center to purchase “heavy-duty” garbage container since the street sweepers are still using the “primitive one”.

It can be noted that 40 medium density polyethylene plastic (MDPE) trash bins were already delivered to the GSO in February. However, the street cleaners still can't utilize it since the city has not paid the dealer yet.

The 120-liter capacity Euro-brand trash container with lid and wheels shot peen initially cost P6,653 per unit or a total of P266,120. However, the price had been scaled down to only P5,200.

In a letter to the mayor dated February 24, Iloilo Izeem Commercial proprietor Avelino R. Aw-yong said they were willing to reduce the price per unit of the same quality since “there is a supplier of such item that provides us in a lower cost”.

Mayor Jerry P. Treñas noted that it would depend on the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) whether the payment will materialize as there is still a required certification (if it is authentic MDPE) from the manufacturer.

Meanwhile, the acquisition of said trash bins has gained “stinking” commentaries over the airwaves that the procurement is in a way – costly. On the other hand, Gallo dismissed the issue as “irresponsible reporting”.

Gallo pointed out “the price is relative” because the raw material used for such garbage container is not recyclable plastic. He even cited that the trash bins, colored blue and green would create “dignity” to the metro aides and the city in general.

Gallo, who requested for the purchase, said he came up with said proposal as he had gone around the country attending the solid waste management (SWM) seminars. He added that such garbage container is an “option for SWM use as what Zamboanga, Marikina and other cities are utilizing”.

He explained that MDPE is usually used in water-proofing like in wastewater treatment and as cover in sanitary landfill. The same kind of trash bins are also being used in business establishments, he said.

Gallo said the utilization of said garbage container would improve the services as the equipment will be of great help. He added that his office is “doing this for the better”.

But it is still unclear when the new trash bins will be at the hands of street cleaners.