By Mariela Angella Oladive
The Iloilo City Government, led by the General Services Office (GSO), is set to modernize its street cleaning operations with the purchase of a high-tech vacuum sweeper truck valued at P5.8 million.
The truck is fitted with a 2-cubic-meter water tank and a spacious 7-cubic-meter trash compartment, giving it a combined capacity of 9 cubic meters for sweeping and disinfecting the city’s primary roads.
GSO Head Engr. Neil Ravena highlighted the acquisition as a safer and more efficient cleaning method, especially for street sweepers who face dangers on busy roads such as the 8-lane Diversion Road or Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue.
“One of my main observations is that we need to replace the street sweepers on Diversion Road. It’s a high-speed and wide highway that poses a risk to them. Manual street sweeping would require many workers because of the number of lanes in the service road,” he said, explaining the rationale behind proposing the vacuum sweeper truck to the Mayor’s office.
Ravena also pointed out the vehicle’s ability to effectively remove dust and organic waste.
To ensure the truck is used to its full potential, Ravena said “the truck and its operators will undergo demonstration and training within the week.
“This will help them practice and identify the best strategies to navigate curves and gutters, particularly along Diversion Road.”
The truck will be manned by a two-person team, including a driver and an operator for the additional equipment like the sweepers and water pump.
The city government plans to fully utilize the truck’s capabilities while also conserving water, aligning with environmental conservation efforts.
Careful planning is in progress to ensure the truck’s effective deployment across selected areas, taking into account the time in motion, service rate, and kilometers covered per hour.
Ravena called for collective action in keeping the city clean, underscoring that cleanliness is a mutual responsibility between the government and its residents.
