CEBU, PHILIPPINES — Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has refused to address questions on whether the continued dumping of garbage at the South Road Properties (SRP) has the approval of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), he instead challenged his critics to suggest alternative disposal sites and invited them to work as his consultants.
“I would not say that…I would not say that… imo na sad ng gamiton para against nako, gamiton sa mu vlog…okay? I don’t answer that,” Archival told reporters when pressed on whether DENR had given its nod for the SRP operations. DENR has yet to issue a statement on the matter.
The mayor also addressed critics of the city’s waste management response.
“Kanang mga tawo nga nag sigeg reklamo, please tell me where to put? Then we are going to bring it to you. Sige…I’ll invite you to come to my office and be my consultant. Tagaan ta mog sweldo,” he said.
When the Binaliw landfill collapsed in January, the city sought DENR clearance to temporarily use SRP as a transfer site, but the request was denied due to alleged violations of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and possible risks to nearby mangroves and coastal waters.
The city later transferred garbage hauling operations to Consolacion, although the arrangement reportedly ended early because of payment issues. Cebu City then shifted disposal operations to Aloguinsan.
SRP eventually became a temporary transfer station for barangays, drawing complaints from nearby residents over foul odor and environmental concerns.
Archival earlier ordered the area cleared, but garbage started piling up again last week after the city’s contract with Aloguinsan ended without a ready alternative site.
The mayor admitted that around 18,000 tons of garbage are currently stockpiled at SRP.
“As of the moment, wala tay kabutangan,” Archival said, adding that containment measures would be implemented while the city searches for another disposal option.
He recalled that at the height of the garbage crisis, the volume of accumulated waste had reached about 100,000 tons before being transported to Aloguinsan.
“We are hoping in the next few days, ma correct na nato na, then we will have to transfer immediately,” he added.
Archival said a task force convened last Friday to review DENR requirements for reopening the Binaliw landfill and inspect whether a new disposal cell, separate from the landslide-hit area, could still be utilized.
The landfill was shut down after the January 8 trash slide that killed 36 workers and one rescuer while injuring more than a dozen others.
“Gitanaw unsay requirements nga gi set sa DENR, unya pay mga dokumento nga naa nila. If okay, then okay they are going to report to me later today. If dili gani angay nato didto dad-on, we need to have another alternative,” he explained.
Archival warned that if Binaliw cannot be reopened, Cebu City may have to resume hauling waste to Aloguinsan, which he said costs the city about P4.2 million daily at P6,000 per ton hauling rate.
The mayor also said DENR requires segregated waste before garbage can again be disposed of at Binaliw.
“Mao nay usa sa ilang gitan-aw nga set up. If that is the case, tagaag ultimatum ang mga barangays nga himoa ni or else, dili ta kalabay,” Archival said.
Although DENR later issued a partial clearance for Binaliw, Archival said he suspended plans to immediately resume operations there pending further review over safety concerns and issues raised by the Cebu City Council.
“In fact, there was this resolution sa council asking EMB to assess the city of Cebu na matan aw ang landfill sa Binaliw para ato ng magamit,” he recalled.
Archival maintained that the city government is trying to balance environmental compliance, public safety, and operational costs.
“But sometimes, satisfying them, there’s so many people who are not satisfied nganong gibutang nato didto,” he said.
He reiterated his appeal for critics to provide concrete alternatives instead of merely criticizing the city government.
“Ug nay mga tawo nga sigeg panaway, tagai mi ug direction ug asa namo ibutang…because we wanted to help the city in a way…we wanted to help,” he said.
| Written by Caecent No-ot Magsumbol/FPL
