Cebu City under solid waste emergency

CEBU, Philippines —  Mayor Nestor Archival has formally declared a State of Solid Waste Management Emergency in Cebu City through an executive order, directing immediate measures for waste reduction, diversion, and controlled disposal.

Executive Order No. 73, Series of 2026, issued on May 6 but released to the media yesterday, stresses the urgency of addressing Cebu's mounting garbage problem while carefully avoiding the term “crisis.” Archival has repeatedly said the word carries negative connotations that he does not want associated with the city’s waste management efforts.

The mayor earlier explained to reporters that while the situation is serious, it should not cause panic to the public or give an impression that the city government is incapable of managing its waste.

Archival stressed that the latest declaration is meant to mobilize communities and institutions toward compliance with Republic Act No. 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which requires segregation at source, composting of biodegradable materials, and recycling of recoverable waste.

Under the law, only residual waste, estimated at 15 percent, should be sent to landfills.

Archival emphasized that the emergency declaration is a proactive measure.

The EO mandates households to segregate waste, compost biodegradable materials, and deliver recyclables to accredited junk shops or Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs).

Only residual waste will be collected by the city for landfill disposal.

Implementation will begin in 10 pilot barangays, including Basak San Nicolas, Luz, Carreta, Calamba, Tejero, Mabolo, Tinago, Inayawan, Lorega, and Kalunasan.

Within three months, the city’s Solid Waste Management Board will evaluate the pilot program and determine expansion across the city.

Archival also strengthens the Solid Waste Management Board and establishes a task force to serve as the operational arm of the city government to ensure enforcement of the order.

The earlier draft referred to the body as a “Solid Waste Crisis Task Force,” but the term was removed from the final version.

The task force will coordinate training, accredit recyclers and haulers, develop composting systems, monitor barangay compliance, and prepare programs of work and budget for submission to the mayor.

Barangays are directed to conduct urgent information campaigns, reactivate MRFs, deploy eco warriors, and submit weekly compliance reports to the City Environment and Natural Resources Office.

Private establishments and residential developments are likewise ordered to install facilities for waste reduction and segregation, subject to inspection.

Schools, churches, and civil society organizations are urged to establish composting centers and mobilize students and parishioners in support of the program.

Archival appealed to all households, businesses, and institutions to take responsibility, stressing that a unified effort is the only way to overcome the city’s waste challenges.

The declaration follows the collapse of the Binaliw landfill in January, which killed dozens and forced the city to spend hundreds of millions hauling waste to Aloguinsan.

Archival has vowed that the city will not yet use the Binaliw landfill until safety is assured, saying Cebu must shift toward waste reduction and diversion at source. — (FREEMAN)