As garbage dumping site: City still using SRP

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Government continues to use the South Road Properties (SRP) as a garbage transfer station despite a cease and desist order (CDO) issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-7 last month directing the city to stop operations and clear the site within 90 days.

The Freeman observed dump trucks unloading garbage at the SRP on Thursday, even as Mayor Nestor Archival maintained that the area had already been cleared.

“Wala na may waste didto kay wala na mana’y baho,” Archival told City Hall reporters during a press conference.

The DENR-7 issued the CDO last month after finding that the city's operation of the transfer station lacked the necessary permits and violated several environmental laws. The agency cited the dumping of mixed waste in violation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, the absence of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) or Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC), and the risk of leachate contamination from Pond A in violation of the Clean Water Act. It also noted complaints of foul odor, raising possible violations of the Clean Air Act.

Archival said any garbage brought to SRP was immediately hauled to Aloguinsan for final disposal.

He said the city now spends about P4.2 million a day to transport and dispose of its waste there, nearly double the P2.1 million daily cost when the Binaliw landfill was still operating.

Despite this, piles of mixed garbage remained visible at the site. Drone footage taken by The Freeman also showed garbage trucks lined up to unload waste at the SRP.

Under the city's current arrangement, barangays are allowed to deliver collected garbage only once during their assigned schedules. However, a barangay official told The Freeman that instead of transferring the waste to another truck under the earlier "no contact" policy, they simply dumped the garbage on the ground. Photos and videos taken on Wednesday corroborated the account, showing waste being deposited directly on the site.

The DENR first denied Cebu City's request to use the SRP as a temporary transfer station in January, shortly after the deadly trash slide at the Binaliw landfill.

The January 8, 2026 tragedy buried the materials recovery facility, killed 36 workers and a volunteer rescuer, and injured 18 others. The DENR immediately suspended landfill operations, allowing only rescue and clearing activities.

With Binaliw closed, Cebu City initially diverted its garbage to Consolacion before temporarily using the SRP while negotiating a disposal agreement with Aloguinsan.

Complaints over foul odor and environmental risks prompted Archival to order the clearing of the SRP in March. However, garbage again accumulated after the city's disposal contract with Aloguinsan expired in May. The buildup continued until the agreement was renewed, prompting the DENR to issue the CDO in June.

Although the city was given 90 days to clear the area, the order does not authorize the continued dumping of garbage collected from the barangays. Archival acknowledged that the city's garbage hauling expenses have become a financial burden and said he has sought guidance from the DENR on long-term solutions.

He added that Prime Integrated Waste Management Inc., operator of the Binaliw landfill, has already completed another disposal cell to expand the facility's capacity.

“We expect that in the next few weeks, it will reopen because it’s already ready,” Archival said, expressing hope that the reopening would significantly reduce the city's dependence on hauling garbage to Aloguinsan.

Archival also said the DENR had suggested constructing a concrete, enclosed emergency transfer station at the SRP to address environmental concerns.

“As long as number one, ang leachate, di manaog. Number two, dili mogawas ang baho,” Archival explained, noting that such a facility would allow the city to temporarily manage waste during emergencies when access to the Binaliw landfill is disrupted.- FPL  (CEBU NEWS)