FREELANCER: Garbage of Bacolod

Everybody is hoping for a better year in 2026 despite some negative vibes that were felt and experienced even up to the dying weeks of 2025.

The calamities, the typhoons and floods, earthquakes, the sugar mill gate price drops but higher retail market prices, to the continuing killings and illegal drug trades, to the unabated corruption in government, to the lack of employment and the underemployment, and the dwindling church attendance, to mention some.

We are at the mercy of all these realities, but what is important is for each one to continue doing things not only for his own survival but also for others’ welfare.

We cannot do otherwise but to remain strong, resilient and always trust in the mercy and power of the Almighty.

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GARBAGE WOES

The City Government of Bacolod is calling on Bacolodnons to give the new garbage collection entity, I-SWIMS, a chance to prove that it can perform better than the previous hauler.

Based on recent pronouncements, the previous IPM had the lowest bid offer for garbage collection, environmental services and upkeep of the sanitary landfill for 2026, but it failed in the post-qualification stage. I-SWIMS bidded higher for such services, but was eventually taken in following the IPM failure.

Although a lot of speculations are still milling around regarding the approval of the new consortium that will collect and manage the city’s garbage, the firm started operating, beginning with the piling backlog left by IPM which was aggravated by the usual holiday season rush – starting from major and secondary roads to some barangays, together with the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO). The consortium, with BENRO, hopes to regularize garbage collection schedule within the week.

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The other day, while I-SWIMS and BENRO were hauling tons and tons of garbage from various barangays, a white pickup was caught on CCTV dumping trash at a newly-cleared area.

This incident was already referred by the city government to the Bacolod City Police Office. As of this writing, the result of the investigation was still being awaited.

Of course, this was not the first case that was caught on camera. I don’t know what actions were taken then against the culprits in the previous cases.

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With the engagement of I-SWIMS which is, understandably assuring the general public of better performance, we also expect the city to be more strict in implementing ordinances and laws against those who throw garbage not in designated dumping areas.

The city government must not only show its teeth, but must prove that its teeth are sharp and biting if it truly wants a city that does not smell.

The local government must show leadership among barangay leaders who are, until now hesitant to impose sanctions against their constituents who defy regulations in dumping wastes.

It has been proven time and again, that garbage is among reasons some puroks and barangays are flooding.

Time to have an iron hand on this garbage woes!* (APT)