ANGELES CITY — Scrap altogether the suspended city septage ordinance; craft a new one anchored on fairness, transparency, and accountability.
Thus, the multi-sectoral group Advocates for Genuine and Outstanding Services (AGOS) called on the sangguniang panlungsod during a public hearing of its committee on environment and public utilities on Sept. 24.
AGOS lead convenor Alexander Cauguiran, a former city councilor himself, presented his group’s position paper questioning the monthly collection of septage fees despite desludging services being rendered only once every three to five years.
“Households and establishments are effectively paying years in advance for services not yet delivered,” Cauguiran said, arguing that this collection practice already raises the issue of fairness, accountability, and proper financial management.
The AGOS position paper maintains that:
- Septage fees must be treated as a trust fund. Since payments are made in advance, collections must be safeguarded exclusively for the program.
- Interest or financial gains must benefit the public. It would be unjust for private providers to profit from interest on advance collections.
- Transparency and accountability are non-negotiable. The service provider and city government must submit regular reports on collections, balances, and utilization, subject to Commission on Audit (COA) oversight.
- Safeguards must be institutionalized. For example, fees could be deposited in a special account managed by the City Treasury, with releases tied to actual desludging schedules or operational needs.
Cauguiran further urged the council to hold barangay-level consultations so residents themselves can voice concerns before any new ordinance is enacted.
Committee chair councilor JC Aguas noted that public hearings are crucial in fine-tuning policies and reminded her council peers to heed the public outcry during the 2025 elections over the controversial septage fees. She added that this was why she requested Mayor Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II to entrust to her the chairmanship of the environment and public utilities committee.
This, even as she affirmed that environmental fees and septage management programs their positive impact on public health, sanitation, and environmental protection, explaining that revenues are normally categorized across sectors, from residential households to commercial establishments and large industries, to ensure equity and sustainability.
It can be recalled that on July 1, the very day of assumption of the mayoralty, Lazatin issued Executive Order No. 1 suspending the collection of environmental and septage fees which effectively stopped water utilities and accredited providers from collecting fees and performing desludging operations pending review and amendment of the city ordinances.
Wednesday’s hearing was the sixth held on the septage ordinance and joined by Vice Mayor Amos Rivera, committee co-chaired Atty. Arvin Suller, and councilors Niknok Bañola, Jesselle Dayrit, Raco del Rosario, Alex Indiongco, Marang Morales, Edu Pamintuan, and Ron Pineda.
Livestreamed on Facebook, the hearing was participated in by Barangay Cutud kagawad Beth Pallasigue; Tess Maniacup and Remy Canlas, president and vice president of the Angeles City Pampang Public Market Federation; Marco Lumanlan Ng of the Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Mark Allen Sison, president of the Central Luzon Media Association-Pampanga Chapter, alongside multi-sectoral members of AGOS. Punto News Team/Contributed photos
