Councilor denies link to project cost hike

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Councilor Harry Eran has cried foul after being singled out over the sudden increase in the proposed cost of a pyrolysis project for the city’s solid waste, from ?250 million to ?470 million.

During Tuesday’s council session, Eran said Mayor Nestor Archival had unfairly mentioned his name during the Solid Waste Summit, making him feel targeted after Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña raised suspicions of possible anomalies in the proposed project.

Eran thanked Councilor Joel Garganera for bringing up the issue, saying it gave him an opportunity to clear his name.

“Mr. Chair, this representation would like to clarify because member Garganera made mention yesterday’s summit, my name was also mentioned by our honorable Mayor with respect to the proposed solid waste initiative, the pyrolysis...I take exception to that statement, Mr. Chair, because it’s unfounded without basis considering what we received in this council is the proposal from the proponent for that purpose. It does not even come from the mayor’s office, though the mayor affixes his signature to be included in the agenda for us to deliberate… because all of us, kahibaw ta nga problema tas basura. So mao kana, thank you member Garganera for bringing up this issue tungod kay I want to clear my name,” Eran said.

Eran also explained that the original proposal was ?250 million but was later revised to ?470 million to include additional equipment, such as automatic segregation units and accessories.

“Two weeks ago, naka dawat tag proposal from the same proponent (Suki Trading Corporation) on the amount of ?470 million which all of us had a copy. Perusing the proposal, Mr. Chair, lahi. Mao gihapon ?250 gihapon ang machine, but naa na silay gi introduce nga automatic segregation, two units, plus the accessories after the recovery of the basura. Mao nay nakita nako na deperensya,” Eran added.

He rejected insinuations that he was behind the cost increase to profit from the project.

“Yesterday, I was singled out, named because of Eran the ?250 became ?470 million and then Vice Mayor smells something fishy that someone wants to make money out of this project. I beg to disagree, Mr. Chair. That proposal does not come from me. How could someone mention my name and bluntly accuse me of trying to make money? That’s unfair, Mr. Chair. All of us want to help the city of Cebu… but naming someone trying to make money is grossly unfair, and I take exception to that.”

Eran later apologized for the manner of his remarks, acknowledging that his tone may have been sharp because he felt hurt by the accusations.

“Sorry for probably nidako akong tingog tungod kay sakit sad ba. Maybe the Vice Mayor has been misinformed sa mao nga situation. But it’s very clear: two proposals, coming from the same proponent, the same number. But certainly, it does not come from this representation,” he said.

Osmeña, who did not mention Eran by name during the session, questioned the ?220-million increase and warned of possible irregularities in the proposed project.

“Something is wrong. I smell an anomaly. The reputation of this council is at stake,” he said, adding that he was only helping the mayor review the matter.

Since the collapse of the Binaliw landfill in January 2026, which killed 36 workers, the city has been hauling its waste to Aloguinsan at a cost of more than ?4 million daily.