Dagupan City Mayor Brian Lim was recently tagged by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) after receiving complaints regarding his alleged failure to issue a notice of disapproval and failure to render government services. The formal complaint was filed by SURE Global Waste to Worth Innovations (W2WI), a leading international organization involved in sustainable and eco-friendly solutions.
Back in 2017, the Dagupan city government signed a joint venture agreement (JVA) with W2WI for its Waste to Worth project aimed at ending Dagupan’s garbage woes. The project involved the construction of a state-of-the-art facility costing P550 million, that would have converted solid waste into diesel fuel for jeepneys and motorboats, as well as methane gas for cooking and lighting homes.
Under the approved terms of the agreement, W2WI would build the facility at no cost to the city government, provided the latter provides a parcel of land measuring two hectares in Bonuan, Binloc. The intended facility was supposed to take up to 30 tons of garbage a day, and produce 4,000 liters of diesel from plastics and 4,000 kilograms of natural gas from green and food wastes.
Despite Dagupan’s mounting garbage collection and disposal problem, however, the project remains in limbo to this day.Consequently, Lim has been accused of delaying — and in some cases, even impeding — the initiative, with seemingly no discernible reason. According to the complainants, all due diligence requirements (including studies, permits, paperwork, and even budget approvals), have long been secured and accomplished. Ostensibly, all that is required to initiate the project is Lim’s signature, which he has not executed as of this writing.
Based on Republic Act No. 9485, otherwise known as the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, frontline service procedures must be simplified and service standards must be formulated and be observed in every transaction. The same is stipulated in the Republic Act No. 11032, also known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.
Dagupan is the third LGU after Angeles City and Cabuyao, Laguna to explore a partnership with W2WI.
