COMMENTARY

Cost analysis of the garbage/waste
disposal services of the local government of Upi
By Jose Gersalino

The local government of Upi thru the Office of the Municipal Engineer has adopted a garbage/waste disposal program, in the meantime that the solid Waste Management Program has yet to be implemented.

The garbage are gathered from all possible points in the Poblacion and dump at km.30, Kibleg, Upi, Maguindanao. In implementing this waste disposal program, the local government Unit uses, three (3) units of dump trucks and one (1) pay loader every Mondays and Fridays of the month and one unit of dump truck and one pay loader every Wednesday of the month. Added to this operation is the use of a bulldozer and a prime mover once every month, to push down the garbage gathered at the dump site, which when not, are an eyesore to the traveling public, since the dumping site is along the national high way from Upi to Cotabato City.

Herein below are the months and the number of days in which the frequency of disposing of garbage are reflected. i.e.

For the moth of:

A) January 2006 Monday Wednesday Friday End of the Month

No. of Days -------5 -------4 ----------4 -------1
Units used 3 DT+ 1 PL 1 DT+ 1PL 3 DT+ 1 PL 1 B + 1PM
Fuel 100 liters 60 liters 100 liters 200 liters

[* Note: 20liters for each dump truck (DT) and 40 liters for the pay loader (PL), 200 liters for the bulldozer (B) and the prime mover (PM)]

Fuel consumed for the Month.
500 liters for 3 DT+ 1PL every Monday
240 liters for 1 DT+ 1PL every Wednesday
400 liters for the 3DT +1PL
200 liters for B & PM
Total 1,340 liters of fuels
Price/liter 38.00
Total Amount P50, 920.00 per month for fuel only


B) February 2006 Monday Wednesday Friday End of the Month

No. of Days--------- 4----- 004 -----------4- ---------1
Units used 3 DT+ 1 PL 1 DT+ 1PL 3 DT+ 1 PL 1 B + 1PM
Fuel 100 liters 60 liters 100 liters 200 liters

Fuel consumed for the Month.
400 liters for 3DT +1PLevery Monday
240 liters for 1DT + 1PLevery Wednesday
400 liters for 3DT+1 PL
200 liters for B & PM
Total 1,240 liters of fuels
Price/liter 38.00
Total Amount P47, 120.00 per month for fuel only

C) March 2006 Monday Wednesday Friday End of the Month

No. of Days ----4 --------5----------- 5---------- 1
Units used 3 DT+ 1 PL 1 DT+ 1PL 3 DT+ 1 PL 1 B + 1PM
Fuel 100 liters 60 liters 100 liters 200 liters

Fuel consumed for the Month.
400 liters for 3DT+1PL every Monday
300 liters for 1DT+ 1PWednesday
500 liters for 3T + 1 PL
200 liters for B & PM
Total 1,400 liters of fuels
Price/liter 38.00
Total Amount P53, 200.00 per month for fuel only

D) April 2006 Monday Wednesday Friday End of the Month

No. of Days -----4 --------4 ---------4 ----------1
Units used 3 DT+ 1 PL 1 DT+ 1PL 3 DT+ 1 PL 1 B + 1PM
Fuel 100 liters 60 liters 100 liters 200 liters

Fuel consumed for the Month.
400 liters for 3DT +1PL every Monday
240 liters for 1DT + 1PLevery Wednesday
400 liters for 3DT +1PL
200 liters for B & PM
Total 1,240 liters of fuels
Price/liter 38.00
Total Amount P47, 120.00 per month for fuel only

E) May 2006 Monday Wednesday Friday End of the Month

No. of Days ----5 --------5 ---------4---------- 1
Units used 3 DT+ 1 PL -1 DT+ 1PL- 3 DT+ 1 PL -1 B + 1PM
Fuel 100 liters 60 liters 100 liters 200 liters
Fuel consumed for the Month.
500 liters for 3DT +1PLevery Monday
300 liters for 1DT + 1PL every Wednesday
400 liters for 3DT + PL
200 liters for B & PM
Total 1,400 liters of fuels
Price/liter 38.00
Total Amount P56, 000.00 per month for fuel only

F) June 2006 Monday Wednesday Friday End of the Month

No. of Days ----4 --------4 ---------5 ---------1
Units used 3 DT+ 1 PL 1 DT+ 1PL 3 DT+ 1 PL 1 B + 1PM
Fuel 100 liters 60 liters 100 liters 200 liters
Fuel consumed for the Month.
400 liters for 3DT+PL every Monday
240 liters for 1DT +PLevery Wednesday
500 liters for 3DT+ PL
200 liters for B & PM
Total 1,240 liters of fuels
Price/liter 40.00
Total Amount P53, 600.00 per month for fuel only

Total for six (6) months operations- January-June 2006 P 307,960.00

Aside from this the Local Government of Upi hired street sixteen (16) sweepers to clean and gather waste/garbage, to maintain health and sanitation within the Poblacion.

The 16 sweepers for every two (2) months per shift, at the rate of P2,000.00 per month, will cost a total of P32,000.00 per month, for the 6 months period it will cost the LGU Upi a total of P192,000.00.

Excluded in this moderate estimates are the salaries and wages of 4 drivers of DT plus 1 helper, 1 driver and 1 helper for PM, 2 operators for pay loader and bulldozer and half dozen of regular members of the labor force in the garbage disposal.

On the other hand,as of May 2006, our taxpayers numbering 169 have paid the treasury office the amount of P117, 075.00 for their respective garbage fees for the year 2006. While it is true that all have at least paid fully for the year, there are still who has yet to pay in full this garbage fee and worst there are still many who didn’t apply for Business Permit, thus correspondingly they don’t pay Garbage Fee.

This Garbage Fee, due to public demand has been reduced by the LGU Upi from P1,000-1,500 per year to P500-700 per year, depending the upon the classification of the business being engaged into by the individual.

The total expenses of the LGU Upi in the gathering and disposing of garbage/waste for the 6 months period has amounted to P499,960.00, total amount of fuel used and wages paid to our street sweepers, excluding those of our regular LGU labor.

The great disparity between the cost of gathering and disposing of garbage/waste fees collected, points to just one thing, Garbage Disposal services, by the LGU Upi is so costly or expensive as reflected by the horrendous price incurred for the first 6 moths of this services.

Therefore, the implementation of the Solid Waste management Program is the key solution to this and the cooperation and full support of the constituent of Upi is not only an indispensable necessity but a must for all of us. We have shown that we ca be one and united, we must show the same, regarding the finding of a solution to our garbage problem.



[JOSE “Jess” GERSALINO, Executive secretary to the Mayor and same time Community Media Educational Council (CMEC) Secretary. And one of the three (Vice Mayor Abdullah P. Salik Jr, and Station Manager Mario G. Debolgado) regular anchors of the DXUP FM radio program; “Usaping Bayan” (program on LGU Concerns & Current Issues ) from 4:00-5:00 P.M. every Monday-Friday]