GOVERNMENT auditors have discovered Davao City has stashed 5,444 units of mobile garbage bins, some so big they require four persons to move, that were left unused since they were purchased in 2016, funded from a loan drawn from a government bank.
In its 2019 report released last May 11, the Commission on Audit said each garbage bin has a shelf life of only five years. Since they were acquired in 2016, all will be considered “fully depreciated” or having no more monetary value by 2021 even if they have never been used.
The bulk of the mobile trash bins are of the largest type with a capacity of 660 liters worth P23,954.04 each. Davao City bought 3,959 of these for a whopping P94.83 million.
There were also 463 units of 360-liter bins worth P15,050.18 each for a combined value of P6.97 million and 1,022 units of 240-liter bins each acquired for P5,842.46 or a total of P5.97 million for a grand total of P107.7 million.
The unused trash bins were stockpiled inside the compound of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Motor Pool located in Maa, Davao City.
“In 2015, the CGD [city government of Davao] entered into an agreement with the Land Bank of the Philippines for a loan amounting to P600 million to purchase 12 units of garbage compactors, 13,566 units of mobile garbage bins and to modify the existing seven units of garbage compactors,” the audit team said.
Garbage bins are ideal for keeping stray animals from digging into open trash containers. They also prevent leaking of wet garbage that emit foul odor and could spread bacteria and diseases.
The actual purchase took place in 2016 under the Davao City-CENRO’s Solid Waste Management Program but after four years, 40 percent of the garbage bins delivered have not been used at all.
Members of the audit team interviewed CENRO personnel and found out they would rather not use the biggest bins.
“Garbage collectors dread the 660-liter bins which account for nearly 73 percent or 3,959 units out of 5,444 idle bins. This type requires the manpower of at least four persons to unload or transfer its contents to ordinary garbage trucks,” auditors noted.
Ideally, the big bins were supposed to be lifted by garbage compactor trucks that are equipped with loading features. However, on any given day, only eight or nine units of garbage compactors are in operation.
The city government’s Ten-Year Ecological Solid Waste Management Plan shows that it was supposed to continue deploying the mobile garbage bins to replace the ones that break down. These were intended for deployment in strategic locations, including special events venues, public schools, during post-disaster cleanup drives, and for coastal clean-up activities.
Auditors however noted the guidelines were not followed.
“On the contrary, the considerable number of unused bins at the Maa Motor Pool may prove otherwise. Purchased in 2016 with five years of useful life, such assets will be fully depreciated about a year from now,” the audit team said.
The Davao City CENRO agreed with the COA’s recommendation to intensify the monitoring of damaged and/or unserviceable mobile garbage bins. It also said it will identify new areas where the unused bins will be placed as additional collection points.
The 660-liter bins will likewise be assigned to garbage compactors even as the CENRO requested for the procurement of additional garbage compactors that can handle the largest bins.
