At last, 2 mortal enemies have 1 thing in common

Gov. Edgar Chatto and Tagbilaran Mayor Dan Lim finally found something in common in, of all things, the garbage problem. The worsening garbage disposal problem at the Dampas dump site offered the two men what many people failed to do elsewhere – a common solution. Lim decided to close the dump site last Monday in a move that brought attention to the problem in the dump site. The mayor said he decided to close the dump site because it can no longer keep up with the heavy volume of garbage thrown there every day. One of the first casualties was the road leading to the dump site which the mayor said would have to be repaired first. “How can you expect the road repair project to be finished early if the road is not closed to traffic?” the mayor pointed out.

The bigger problem, however, was in the dump site which could no longer cope with the trash which has grown to as much as 106 tons a day. This is because the dump site is not only used by Tagbilaran but also by neighboring towns particularly tourism-oriented facilities in Panglao island. Chatto seized the initiative and offered the use of heavy equipment owned by the provincial government. Lim accepted the offer with only the mechanics of the collaboration between the provincial and city governments unresolved at the moment. Sources placed the rental rate for the bulldozer at P3,060 per day excluding fuel, oil and operator. The pay loader meanwhile fetched a rental rate of P1,950 per day excluding fuel, oil and operator. Lim said he is amenable to this but preferred that the operator will come from the provincial government. He added that he would be willing to pay a higher rate if the charges would include the fuel and oil expenses.

“Those who think I will not accept the offer will definitely be surprised,” the mayor remarked. He, however, stressed that he is always willing to put aside his personal feelings for the good of his constituents. Lim also put it on record that the city will definitely pay for the use of the heavy equipment. “People should not make an issue out of it because this is no different than the loan obtained by a borrower from the lender,” he added. The mayor said that in the same way that the borrower does not owe anything to the lender, the city government also feels the same way with the provincial government. “It’s nothing personal, just strictly business,” he added. Lim said the lower rental rates offered by the provincial government are to the best interest of the city so he merely took advantage of it. “If another entity offers a better price, we will take that over this one,” he added. Lim quickly quashed any hopes of those who might be entertaining the possibility of the two men joining forces in the future.

“I want to make it clear that we are not asking for special favors from the Capitol,” he declared over his radio program “Ang Mayor Sa Dakbayan” aired live over Station DyTR every Saturday morning. Lim said there are no free rides in this world and the solution to the garbage problem in the city is no exception. While he acknowledged that Chatto gave the city the best deal for the moment, Lim said the city will pay the provincial government what is due to it. At the same time, Lim made it clear that while he has already accepted the offer, the final arrangements to the rental are still being worked out. “So until the deal is closed, we will continue to do what we have been doing,” he added. Lim said that if the two sides can agree on the details, the city would be willing to rent the heavy equipment not only for the dump site but also in its road improvement projects. “Definitely,” the mayor replied when asked if the city will consider using them for the on-going road improvement projects. “This is our project so we will do anything that will be good for us,” he added.