The waste management contractor for Bacolod City, IPM-Construction And Development Corporation (IPM-CDC), was off to a rocky start when they first began servicing the city, with issues surrounding neglected areas and poor scheduling (if at all).
Today, they appear to be operating with a bit more semblance and even having their contract renewed earlier this year for nearly P150 million, after FDR, Inc. was disqualified by the city Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) and former contractor Dynamic Builders and Construction, Inc. withdrew their bid.
The company even has the administration motto of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia emblazoned on their truck, “Bacolod Back on Track” – a bid odd plastering a partisan slogan on something like a garbage truck, one would think subliminal political campaigning could take a rest at some point.
The company recently began doing pick-ups within subdivisions in the city, on a couple occasions, encounters with the personnel were less than desirable.
One of the first times having to interact with their garbage collectors was when they were doing morning collections and one of their crew wandered into the garden and began picking at some of the fruit. Rushed outside to confront him and there seemed to be no apprehension to being caught stealing, as if it were no big deal. Now, this wouldn’t be the first time dealing with somebody unconcerned with being caught stealing, based on conversations with assailants, it would appear the local belief is, if the owner doesn’t catch you, it’s not stealing – an interesting conviction for a country that prides itself on being so fervently religious and morally upright.
Eventually gave him some, but let him know he should always ask permission (could not believe this was advice to a middle-aged man and not a kid entering first grade).
The next time having to meet with waste management personnel, they were parked directly in front of the house, blocking the driveway, as they did collection. They all gave a look back at the car but it was not a problem, at the time, and gave them a few minutes as they did their job. At a certain point, one of them began rummaging through the waste and fished out a pair of glasses, which he then put on; another one stood there looking around; and another one stopped for water. The water break then became a second and a third, with others joining in with an ensuing conversation beginning – all the while, after patiently waiting for them, was still idling behind them.
It took a request for them to move forward a bit in order to enter the driveway and they immediately sped off.
Apparently, they were done, but felt the need to cause unneeded inconvenience? Understandably, if they are doing a job, it is only right to offer them time to finish, but by speeding off so quickly, it shows they were already done and were merely dawdling and, perhaps, enjoying the idea of watching a car idle – would interpret that viewpoint as believing they have some kind of command over the waiting party, an ill-perceived dominance.
They were given respect by giving them time to complete their collection, is it too much to ask for a little respect back? Even allowing a would-be thief to have the fruit he would have otherwise stolen is a more then generous offering.
In the same way, garbage trucks double park, sometimes triple park, along the roads while doing collections around the city and create major inconveniences. Yet, despite the traffic snarl they produce, there still appears to be no urgency on behalf of the workers in trying to complete the job quickly and efficiently.
More evidence as to why one would think they enjoy creating a nuisance.
In the same way, for example, when walking towards the entrance of a building, many times somebody coming from another direction will visibly pick up the pace just to get in first, why? Is there a prize? Many times, once inside and in front, they walk slowly to make sure others remain behind them. Or with drivers, many times jeepney drivers, merging into traffic without looking, seemingly unaware of a potential accident but just to get in first – and subsequently, idle their way down the road, slowing down every driver behind them.
These are all ways people seem to purposefully inconvenience others, perhaps gaining some kind of pride from it. It is the same attitude perceived from the IPM-CDC collectors. Already complete with their duties, aware somebody afforded them the courtesy of their time to finish the job, and how are they repaid? A longer wait while they decide to take a break and rummage through garbage for something to play with.
The least they can do is offer a bit of respect, especially after it was extended to them./WDJ