City to enforce waste segregation anew

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City is preparing to enforce waste segregation once again, a mandate that has proven challenging to implement despite many years of efforts.

The Cebu City Solid Waste Management Board (CCSWMB) has recommended to Mayor Nestor Archival that the City Government begin a gradual enforcement of this initiative starting next year.

Archival accepted the proposal but emphasized that enforcement will only occur after a comprehensive public information campaign.

 “Ang ato lang, kinahanglan ma inform ang public,” he said, stressing that residents must understand the rules before penalties are imposed.

Segregation of waste has been a requirement since the implementation of Republic Act 9003, known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

In the early 2000s, then-Mayor Tomas Osmeña initiated waste segregation programs. However, he later observed that garbage collectors continued to collect mixed waste, and barangays lacked the necessary facilities to ensure compliance.

His successor, Michael Rama, made efforts to revive the "No Segregation, No Collection" policy, urging barangays to adopt stricter waste management practices.

Yet, the effort to improve waste management was hampered by limited resources, inadequate monitoring, and short-lived awareness campaigns. As a result, most households continued to dispose of their garbage without segregating it.

Some barangay-level initiatives showed promise in certain communities; however, the Commission on Audit (COA) repeatedly criticized Cebu City for failing to establish functional materials recovery facilities (MRFs), which are a crucial component of Republic Act 9003.

COA pointed out that most barangays either lacked MRFs or had non-operational facilities. This situation left segregated waste with no proper disposal options, forcing the city to depend on the Binaliw landfill.

In its 2024 audit, the Commission on Audit (COA) warned that the lack of MRFs is increasing hauling and tipping costs, which exceeded ?407 million in the first half of 2025.

Councilor Joel Garganera, chair of the City Council’s environment committee, has long expressed concerns about Cebu’s garbage problem, describing it as a “broken system.”

He highlighted issues such as flooding that has left trash piled in coastal barangays, damage to the Bacayan Bridge that has slowed landfill trips, and the collapse of the waste-to-energy project, which he referred to as “the one that got away.”

Garganera emphasized that segregation alone cannot resolve the crisis without proper infrastructure and comprehensive planning.

Around middle of this year, SWMB chair Emma Ramas called for a dedicated Solid Waste Management department to centralize enforcement. The City Council also moved to strengthen legislation.

In September 2025, Councilor Dave Tumulak proposed amendments to Cebu City’s segregation-at-source ordinance to ensure compliance with the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022.

His proposal aimed to impose stricter penalties for violators, including increased fines and potential jail time for repeat offenders. Additionally, it sought to hold corporations accountable for the management of plastic packaging waste.

The phased approach of the city's Archival program draws on lessons learned from previous failures.

Before enforcement begins, the city plans to distribute flyers, conduct radio interviews, visit schools, and hold teacher assemblies to educate the community.

Once enforcement starts, waste collectors may be instructed to refuse non-biodegradable waste on designated days. Barangay Enforcement Officers will monitor compliance in areas identified as hotspots.

The CCSWMB has been assigned to create clear guidelines for the segregation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste, ensuring uniform standards across all barangays.

The meeting held on December 12, presided over by Ramas, included representatives from CCENRO, DILG, DENR-EMB, CPDO, Eco Waste Coalition, DepEd, USC, and other agencies, as reported by the City’s Public Information Office (PIO).

“Importante nga magtinabangay ang tanan nga sektor aron masulbad ang atong waste challenges ug mapaayo ang kahimtang sa atong komunidad. Pinaagi sa lig-on nga koordinasyon, mas mapa-paspas nato ang pagpatuman sa mga programa alang sa mas limpyo ug mas sustainable nga Cebu City,” Archival added.

Discussions centered on enhancing segregation, exploring alternative disposal solutions, and improving coordination among institutions.

Archival stated that if Cebu succeeds, it could serve as a model for other localities.  “Once ang atong siyudad mahimo ni, ma share ni sa ubang areas,” he said.