Archival wants city’s transactions with Binaliw landfill operator examined

Local

CEBU City Mayor Nestor Archival wants his newly appointed city administrator to scrutinize government transactions and procurement procedures, including the city’s P130-million unpaid account with the operator of the Binaliw landfill.

The review aims to determine which obligations can be negotiated for payment based on complete documentation.

Archival said that he had given Briccio Boholst three initial assignments following his formal assumption of the city administrator’s post.

These include reviewing the organization of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), assessing possible changes in city government departments, and examining outstanding transactions, particularly those involving the Binaliw landfill.

For the P130-million account with Prime Integrated Waste Solutions (PWS) Cebu, Archival said the city must first determine which transactions have complete and problem-free documentation before negotiating payment.

“I was thinking that we should examine all the transactions and determine whether there are documents without problems,” the mayor said in an interview on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

“Those are the ones we can negotiate and pay, at least in good faith,” he added.

The unpaid account has complicated the city’s garbage disposal arrangements, as the outstanding debt has prevented it from using the Binaliw sanitary landfill.

City Hall has instead been hauling its daily garbage to Aloguinsan, a town in southwestern Cebu.

The landfill’s operations were also disrupted by a cease-and-desist order issued by regulators following a deadly trash slide in January.

The financial dispute and the regulatory action have further complicated efforts to restore the city’s regular garbage disposal arrangements.

Beyond the landfill debt, Archival wants Boholst to determine whether changes in procurement procedures could help the city expedite spending and project implementation.

The mayor identified the BAC’s organization as the first priority, saying the review should help speed up the procurement of supplies and services and the implementation of projects before the year ends.

He also directed Boholst to consult department heads on possible reorganizations to improve the delivery of public services.

Boholst’s appointment follows the resignation of former City Administrator Albert Tan, who stepped down amid reports of an investigation into alleged irregularities involving the BAC, which he chaired.

Suppliers had also raised complaints about the selective release of bidding documents.

Boholst had been serving as acting city administrator since Sept. 18 while retaining his position as city attorney. Following his formal assumption of the administrator’s post on Monday, Oct. 26, Assistant City Attorney Eleodoro Diaz IV was designated officer-in-charge of the City Legal Office.

Meanwhile, the city continues to assess longer-term options for managing its waste.

These include strengthening barangay-level waste segregation, recycling, and other diversion efforts to reduce the volume of garbage sent to landfills.

City officials are also evaluating a proposed waste-processing project estimated to cost between P350 million and P400 million.

The proposal remains under assessment, and the city has yet to announce a final decision on its implementation.(TGP)