Cebu City trucks will continue to use Mandaue streets — official

PENDING the repair of the Talamban–Pit-os Road, trucks from Cebu City  have no choice but to pass  Mandaue City roads in transporting  garbage to  a private  landfill in Pulog in Consolacion town, said an official.

From Banilad, trucks have to pass part of  the Talamban road in the north before turning  to the  road in barangay Canduman in Mandaue City on their way to Consolacion.

To avoid being apprehended for violation of Mandaue’s truck ban, Cebu City garbage trucks have to follow  designated hours  of the ban   from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Several Cebu City  trucks have been apprehended for violating the ban  since its implementation on Monday, said Department of Public Services (DPS) head Dionisio Gualiza.

“I already instructed our drivers to focus their collection during those times when the truck ban is enforced.  They can postpone garbage disposal to Consolacion after the truck ban hours,” he said.

Drivers were  also instructed to properly cover their trucks to prevent spillage.

At least four DPS trucks and five barangay garbage trucks were stopped for  garbage spillage but were later released.

The violation carries a fine of  P500.

Gualiza said that since there is no City Hall outlay for  payment of fines, he will ask  DPS personnel and barangay officials to chip in and help him pay the accumulated P2,000 fine for their trucks.

“There is nothing much that we can do (but follow Mandaue City regulations) because of the ongoing repair of the Talamban–Pit-os road.  We have to divert our trucks because four trucks—two from DPS and two from the barangays—met an accident because of the bad roads there,” he said.

Placido Jerusalem, Mandaue City’s Solid Waste Management Board head,  confirmed that  Cebu City garbage trucks continued to pass  Mandaue City streets.

Seven trucks were apprehended last Thursday and  issued  environmental citation tickets with a P500 fine, which has to be settled within 72 hours.

Non-payment  will result in the filing  of a case in court for violation of Repubilc Act  9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act.

Cebu City hasn’t paid the fines yet. Jerusalem didn’t say if the Mandaue ctiy government would file a case over the violations. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac with a report from  Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza