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
