Bacolod starts 2026 with new garbage contract

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By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — The Bacolod City government began the New Year with intensified cleanup operations as a new waste management consortium officially took over garbage collection services following the expiration of the previous contractor’s agreement.

Mayor Greg Gasataya said more than 55 truckloads of garbage were collected Thursday, Jan. 1, with more than 60 units of heavy equipment deployed along major and secondary roads.

Gasataya said cleanup operations will continue in the coming days to clear main and secondary thoroughfares, particularly in Banago, Bata, Handumanan Access Road and Abada Escay.

He said scheduled subdivisions will begin receiving services starting Friday afternoon.

“At 6 a.m. on January 1, we immediately deployed more than 60 compactors, garbage trucks and heavy equipment for an intensive total cleanup of remaining garbage across the city,” Gasataya said.

The intensified operations coincided with the formal signing of a new garbage collection and waste management contract between the city government and a private consortium led by International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialists Inc., replacing IPM Construction and Development Corp., whose contract ended Dec. 31, 2025.

The ceremonial contract signing was held Thursday at the Bacolod City Government Center in coordination with the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office.

“We are very hopeful that the challenges regarding our garbage problem will finally be resolved,” Gasataya said.

The winning consortium is composed of International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialists Inc., D.C. Sandil Construction and Realty Development Inc. and San Igmedio Builders Inc., a Luzon-based firm.

The consortium secured two service contracts for calendar year 2026 amounting to nearly PHP 437 million.

These include a PHP 327.9 million contract for garbage collection, hauling and disposal and a PHP 109 million contract for environmental and sanitary services covering the operation and maintenance of the sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa.

Both contracts will run from January to December 2026.

The consortium is headed by engineer Dennis Sandil as president, with Amie Sandil as corporate secretary and Joel, Mario and Kenneth Sandil serving as operations heads.

Before the signing, the Bacolod City Council convened a special session on Dec. 29, 2025, granting Gasataya the authority to sign the contracts to ensure uninterrupted waste management services.

City Councilor Caesar Distrito, who presided over the session, said the move was necessary to avoid service disruption at the start of the year.

With the new contractor’s operations commencing Jan. 1, Gasataya said he expects the garbage backlog accumulated during the holiday season to be significantly reduced within the first week.

“We expect a total cleanup,” he said.

Gasataya said innovative measures are being implemented to ensure Bacolod starts 2026 on a clean slate.

During the ceremonial send-off, Dennis Sandil presented at least 60 units of heavy equipment, including garbage trucks and compactors, ready for citywide deployment.

“It’s a big challenge considering the backlog, and I even brought our whole family here to face the challenge, and we can handle it,” Sandil said.

“Even with equipment and experience, the best solution is cooperation between the local government and the people, because if everyone follows proper waste disposal schedules, there will be no leftovers,” he added.

Gasataya also urged residents to support the city’s renewed solid waste management efforts.

“We are starting 2026 by immediately addressing one of the biggest concerns of our constituents — garbage collection, and with everyone’s cooperation, we can achieve a cleaner and more environment-friendly Bacolod City,” he said.