Cebu City urged to build own landfill

CEBU, Philippines — Liga ng mga Barangay–Cebu City chapter president Franklyn Ong has urged the city government to consider taking full control of its waste management by building its own landfill and empowering barangays to haul their own garbage.

During an executive session on the Binaliw landfill, Ong said Cebu City has long been at the mercy of private operators, leaving residents vulnerable whenever disposal facilities are closed or sanctioned.

“Para nako, nahug nga victim ang Cebu City, luoy kaayo ba, way mahimo, asa namo ilabay?” he declared, adding, “This is basically a problem we’ve been facing a long time ago.”

The latest incident involved the Binaliw landfill trash slide last January, which prompted the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to issue a cease-and-desist order against the operator.

DENR also barred the city from using the South Road Properties as a temporary transfer station.

The city’s attempt to implement a new collection system, in which private haulers collected garbage directly from barangays, failed amid complaints of delays, foul odors and lack of permits. This forced the Department of Public Services (DPS) to use Block 27 in the North Reclamation Area as its latest transfer station but also without DENR approval.

Ong said the incident should serve as a lesson that the city must take seriously.

“I think Cebu City has to revisit having its own landfill so that we will not be tied, makuptan ta, kung ing-ani nay mahitabo, unya mag unsa man ta?” he added.

Mayor Nestor Archival had also admitted that hauling garbage to Aloguinsan costs Cebu City P4.2 million daily, double its previous expenses, and is unsustainable.

Ong also pressed the DPS to explore alternatives, including finding another hauler that could offer a more reasonable rate than the city’s current private hauler.

He also proposed that the city acquire 10-wheeler dump trucks for each of its 80 barangays, with fuel and driver support, so barangays could deliver their waste directly to disposal facilities.

“Looking forward, imagine ka, in six months time, pilay atong hauling? Kung tagsaan nimog palit usa kabuok nga China nga dumptruck, pila ra na, less than P4 million plus gasoline, tanan, considering 65 kilometers Aloguinsan unya balik, ma compute man na… studyhon lang na,” he explained.

While his proposals remain under discussion, Ong appealed to Prime Integrated Waste Solutions to expedite the rehabilitation of the Binaliw landfill and consider allowing barangays with sufficient funds to dispose of their garbage directly at the facility.

“Palihug kog consider, bisan selective barangay lang, kung naa silay kwarta, nga makalabay lang sila ninyo… mao lang nay akong appeal nimo… as the ABC president nga ang complaints ari nako tanang padong,” Ong said.

The session also tackled other waste management alternatives, including pyrolysis technology, which could process up to 400 tons of garbage daily.

DPS head John Paul Gelasque, however, said that with Cebu City generating 600 to 700 tons of garbage daily, landfilling cannot be eliminated entirely.

The Toledo landfill was also raised as a possible option once it becomes operational, particularly while the Binaliw facility remains unavailable. — /FPL (FREEMAN)