BAGUIO CITY – The local legislative body unanimously confirmed a memorandum of agreement entered between the local government and Rapid Process Inorganic Technology (RAP-PORT) Innovation Corporation on the management and operation of the two multi-million Environmental Recycling System (ERS) machines at Purok 7, Irisan that will ensure the disposal of the stockpiled raw compost in the area.
The agreement was entered into by Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan and RAP-PORT Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rodrigo R. Guerrero.
The confirmation of the agreement was recommended by the Committee on Laws, Human Rights and Justice chaired by Councilor Faustino A. Olowan after local legislators were able to clarify from the RAP-PORT official questions on the management and operation of the ERS machines that were purchased by the local government over nine years ago.
Under the agreement, the local government is required to pay to the company some P5.5 million representing 50 percent of the total maintenance cost that was spent for the ERS machines in 2016 to be used for the initial rehabilitation of the said machines to be able to maximize its potentials of converting over 50 tons of garbage to raw compost and eventually organic fertilizer with the use of added machines and chemicals.
Guerrero explained to the local legislators that if the 2 machines will be fully operational, it will be able to process some 50 tons of biodegradable waste to some 15 to 22 tons of organic fertilizer which the company will purchase from the local government in the amount of P3 per kilo.
For the first year of the full operation of the ERS machines, RAP-PORT will be paying to the local government some P16 million of projected income which will be escalating over a 5-year period that will ensure that the over P128 million spent for the purchase of the machines will be recovered aside from having earned income during the said period.
Aside from making the ERS machines and purchasing the produced organic fertilizer from the local government, RAP-PORT will be in charged of improving the conditions of the machines so that its potentials of producing raw compost and organic fertilizer will be maximized.
RAP-PORT possesses a license to sell organic fertilizer that was issued by the Fertilizers and Pesticides Authority (FPA) so that it could freely sell the fertilizer produced by the ERS machines unlike the PRO-TECH Corporation which was not able to buy back the raw compost by the ERS machines because of the absence of the said license.
The company will take charge of immediately replacing the damaged parts of the ERS machines to avoid unnecessary delays in its operation unlike in the present situation where their operations have to stop to await the purchased parts which have to pass through the rigorous procurement process prescribed under the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 9184 or the Government Procurement Law.
Guerrero informed the local legislators that what will be applied by the company in producing the raw compost and organic fertilizer is the so-called cold technology which is not similar to the heat technology that was used by PRO-TECH in the earlier operation of the ERS machines when it was purchased from the said company by the city. By Dexter A. See
