SRP stays as garbage transfer site

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government has claimed to have successfully cleared the more than 9,000 tons of garbage from Pond A at the South Road Properties (SRP) in time for the March 15 self-imposed deadline set by Mayor Nestor Archival, although the area will continue to operate as a temporary staging site until a permanent landfill is secured.

Archival confirmed that the waste pile had already been removed following his latest inspection of the SRP yesterday. However, he said the site will remain in limited use, with barangays allowed to transfer their collected garbage only at night. The trash will then be immediately hauled to a landfill in Aloguinsan by private contractor Pinoy Basurero.

Cebu City’s garbage crisis spilled into the SRP—an area envisioned as a future tourism and commercial hub—after the closure of the Binaliw landfill and restrictions at the Consolacion facility.

With the city generating around 600 tons of garbage daily, the local government resorted to using SRP as a transfer station, which Department of Public Services (DPS) head John Paul Gelasque described as the “lesser evil” compared to leaving trash uncollected in barangays.

The decision drew criticism from environmental groups, businesses and nearby residents who complained about foul odors and raised concerns over the site’s proximity to coastal waters.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) earlier rejected the city’s request to formalize SRP as a transfer station, citing environmental risks and possible violations of waste management laws. Despite this, the city continued operations, insisting it had no viable alternative.

Archival said garbage transfers at SRP will now be strictly scheduled from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. to ensure no waste remains visible during the day, as it will be immediately transported to the Aloguinsan landfill.

The DPS has also adjusted collection schedules and deployed deodorizing sprays to address odor complaints.

“You can see with your own eyes—there is no more garbage at Pond A. What remains are sediments from desilting our rivers, not waste,” Archival said.

The mayor admitted losing sleep during the height of the garbage crisis but expressed relief over the clearing of the site.

He said the city is continuing negotiations with the DENR for clearance to use the Inayawan area as another transfer site and emphasized the rising costs of waste management.

“If we find a closer landfill, our expenses will be less. As the father of the city, I want Cebu to be clean while following regulatory requirements,” Archival said.

He also urged residents to continue segregating waste to divert materials for composting and renewed his appeal to large companies to temporarily manage their own waste.

Archival warned that future challenges—including rising fuel costs and the effects of the El Niño phenomenon—could further complicate waste management operations.

Gelasque said the garbage pile at SRP grew into a “mountain” following the Binaliw trash slide and the loss of other disposal options.

He stressed that while using Pond A is far from ideal, it prevents garbage from piling up in neighborhoods.

“It’s a band-aid solution, but we have to protect the people walking the streets,” Gelasque said.

While the clearing of Pond A marks a positive development, the city’s waste management crisis remains unresolved.

Negotiations with the DENR and private operators will determine whether Inayawan or another site can provide a more sustainable solution.

For now, the SRP remains a temporary staging area while the city continues its search for a landfill closer to home.