By MAE SINGUAY
BACOLOD City — City officials here took in stride the sudden disappearance of a representative of the city government’s garbage collection contractor from the recent Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) session.
Councilors were supposed to discuss the alleged inefficiency of Enviroking Corp., but the company’s representative left the session hall without a word.
“It was funny,” said Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya.
Enviroking’s representative was around at first but went out after the discussion with Kasadya Bacolod Foundation, Inc. president Roderick Samonte.
“A staff from the city council stopped him, telling him that it was his turn to speak, but he still went along,” said Gasataya. “SP secretary Vicente Petierre III tried to call Enviroking’s mobile number but it cannot be reached.”
The vice mayor did not identify the contractor’s representative.
City officials and residents have been criticizing Enviroking for the “inefficient” collection of garbage around the city.
Councilor Archie Baribar invited Enviroking through its manager, Erwin Buot, to appear at the session on Wednesday to explain the contractor’s side.
Instead of attending the session, Buot sent a representative.
Criticisms against Enviroking have turned the contractor into a hot issue in media outlets here, but the company has not yet spoken up on the matter.
Gasataya said the city council will ask Enviroking to again send a representative to its session next week to shed light on the garbage collection problem.
He clarified that the SP cannot hold Enviroking accountable for leaving the session.
For his part, Mayor Monico Puentevella said he will hold the payments for Enviroking if the contractor fails to efficiently collect the city’s garbage./PN
