Is city use of SRP’s Pond A as garbage station illegal?

CEBU, Philippines —  A letter disapproving Cebu City’s use of Pond A as a temporary garbage transfer station has circulated online, shared by reliable environmental groups including the Knight-Stewards of the Sea, Inc. and the Cebu City Reef Rehabilitation Initiative.

The document, dated January 15, 2026 and signed by then DENR-EMB Region 7 director Ma. Victoria Abrera, stated: “This Office cannot approve the use of the proposed site … The location fails to meet the mandatory requirements under Section 25 of RA 9003.”

The authenticity of the letter, however, has yet to be officially verified by DENR, but its circulation has fueled public concern.

Abrera has since been replaced by Atty. John Edward Ang, who formally assumed office on February 21. Before the turnover, Ang had already issued a compliance monitoring report dated February 16, addressed directly to Mayor Nestor Archival.

A source noted that the report said “the presence of mixed municipal waste, absence of impermeable liners and leachate collection systems, lack of odor and vector control measures, and the site’s proximity to Pond A, which may pose risks of soil and water contamination.”

He directed the city to halt storage at SRP, expedite hauling to an authorized landfill, and strengthen barangay-level segregation.

On February 20, 2026, Mayor Archival formally responded to Ang’s findings accordingly. In his letter, Archival informed DENR-EMB that the city was actively arranging the transfer of waste to a facility in Aloguinsan to minimize environmental impact at SRP.

He added that directives had been reissued to barangays to enforce segregation at source, and requested technical guidance from EMB Region 7 to strengthen compliance with RA 9003 and RA 9512.

Despite these exchanges, the city government began using the SRP site last month as a temporary transfer station after Cebu City lost access to the Consolacion facility when Asian Energy refused to accept the city’s garbage.

Operations at the Binaliw landfill were also disrupted following a deadly trash slide, leaving the city scrambling for alternatives.

Mayor Archival has denied that SRP has become a dump site. “Dili man na siya dump site, kana’ng mura or transfer station … pero wala na nato in the next few days,” he said yesterday while saying that clearing would be completed by March 15.

He added that haulers had been instructed to find another site, with Aloguinsan landfill being prepared as the alternative.

Archival also insisted he had not seen the DENR letter circulating online: “Wa’ ko kakita.”

City councilors interviewed by The Freeman said they had not been informed of DENR’s disapproval. Councilor Joel Garganera, who chairs the committee on environment, admitted: “Wa’ mi kahibaw. But then again, unta lang to ang city speaks and be transparent to us.”

Councilor Dave Tumulak, chair of the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, also said he had not seen the letter.

Speaking from Manila, Tumulak disclosed that he had already sought help from Executive Secretary Ralph Recto and was told to discuss the matter with new DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna.

“Nangayo kog tabang ni Executive Secretary Recto para magpatabang sa problema sa city regarding sa basura… Mag storya daw sila sa regional director regarding sa Binaliw landfill. Mao ng gipa-send sa DENR ang atoang concern … Nagpaabot pa pud ko’s ilang tubag,” he said.

Councilor Jun Alcover, a vocal critic of Archival, was more blunt. “Reklamo na kayo ang SRP uy … unya si Mayor wala lang gihapon. Wala kuno’y baho, pero ang kanang gibalibaran sila nga dili na sila ka butang og basura diha, mao ning akong gipunto. Nganong hilom kayo ang Mayor nga mupatabang or mupatubag or mukiha sa contractor owned by Razon (Binaliw landfill)? Supposedly unta kon mayor ka, imong ipatawag ang contractor … inyo man ning sa, di man ni among sa. Pero until now, hilom man. Kita ra’y nagproblema. Problema, dili gyud ni siya open ba. He has to make it public. Basurahan city na gyud ning Cebu City ron.”

The Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO), led by Engr. Editha Peros, confirmed hauling is ongoing but gave no direct answer on the legality of the SRP site.

Peros explained that CCENRO immediately recommended hauling out after learning SRP was being used, noting that the Department of Public Services is exploring a transfer station model similar to Marikina City where waste does not touch the ground.

Environmental groups have pressed the issue further. The Cebu City Reef Rehabilitation Initiative warned: “The dumpsite near Pond A at SRP does not have DENR-EMB approval. The agency strongly suggests that the city identify an alternative site further away from water sources.” Knight-Stewards of the Sea, Inc. cited RA 9275 (Clean Water Act) and RA 9003, both of which prohibit dumping near water bodies.

As of press time, DENR-EMB Region 7 has yet to issue a formal reply to The Freeman’s inquiries. (CEBU NEWS)