• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Bacolod City has officially integrated a high-tech Global Positioning System (GPS) monitoring by its new contractor, International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist Inc. (ISWIMS), to ensure real-time tracking of waste collection activities across the city.
The monitoring system, presented yesterday, allows the contractor and city government to oversee the movement of garbage compactors and verify their trips to the sanitary landfill in accordance with the service contract.
A key feature of the technology is its ability to backtrack the history of any truck for up to three months.
The trucks will also be signaling their operation using a distinctive jingle starting this Wednesday to notify neighborhoods of their arrival.
In addition, residents can now access the full schedule of the garbage collection on the official Facebook page of the city.
Mayor Greg Gasataya said that as of January 10, 15,735 cubic meters of waste, an amount comparable to seven and a half Olympic-sized swimming pools, were collected across the city.
Gasataya has outlined a recovery plan to address lingering garbage backlogs and restore regular collection schedules, noting that hauling efforts will prioritize schools this week, followed by malls.
He added that once the operations stabilized, the city government will implement stricter measures against illegal dumping in streets and barangays to ensure compliance with the Republic Act 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act.*
