Cebu City's mounting garbage is not just an eyesore or a sanitation headache. It has evolved into a profound crisis of governance, highlighting a decades-long failure to implement a critical environmental law. The situation serves as a stark warning for the entire Philippines.
The Ghost of RA 9003: A Law More Ignored Than Followed
For over 24 years, Republic Act 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2001, has been the law of the land. It is a clear, actionable mandate, not a vague suggestion. The law requires waste segregation at the source, the establishment of Barangay Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs), and a systematic shift away from landfill dependence through recycling and composting. The primary responsibility for executing this lies with the Local Government Units (LGUs).
Yet, in Cebu City, compliance remains elusive. The core question persists: Has the city ever fully prepared and implemented the 10-year solid waste management plan mandated under Section 16 of RA 9003? The evidence on the streets suggests otherwise.
A Cycle of Failed Policies and Mounting Costs
When trash clogs canals and piles up in neighborhoods, officials often blame residents' lack of discipline. While public cooperation is essential, this narrative ignores a fundamental truth: citizens cannot follow a system that is dysfunctional or non-existent.
The city's history with waste segregation is a tale of inconsistency. A "No Segregation, No Collection" policy was enforced under former Mayor Tomas Osmeña. However, in June 2023, former Mayor Mike Rama ordered the Department of Public Services to collect all garbage, segregated or not. Current Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has only partially re-introduced the policy in select barangays, with plans for a city-wide rollout and public education before penalties begin in 2026.
This stop-start approach is costly. Segregation fails without functional MRFs. Collection schedules collapse under overstretched hauling systems. Most critically, landfill expenses explode when waste diversion is weak. Auditors previously flagged a staggering P400 million in hauling and tipping fees as the city's landfill bill soared, a direct result of poor waste processing at the source.
The Binaliw landfill now faces the threat of closure if violations continue, which would create a logistical nightmare for the city. Meanwhile, a proposed P5 billion waste-to-energy project, once seen as a modern solution, has been shelved due to health and environmental concerns from the community.
The Roadmap Exists, But Where is the Political Will?
Cebu City's struggle is a national microcosm. Ordinances are passed, campaigns are launched, but implementation falters due to inadequate infrastructure, erratic enforcement, and political attention that fades faster than a news cycle. Garbage management is not glamorous; it offers no instant political reward, but its neglect extracts a heavy toll: flooding, disease, environmental degradation, and ballooning public debt.
Some LGUs in the Philippines have shown that success is possible. Those that invested early in MRFs, composting, and sustained public education now face fewer disposal crises and lower costs. Their lesson is simple: prevention and proper systems are far cheaper than endless hauling to landfills.
The solution for Cebu City is not another temporary crackdown. It is the consistent, fearless, and apolitical enforcement of RA 9003, anchored in building real facilities, funding sustained education, and ensuring accountability from barangay officials to City Hall. The law has provided the roadmap for 24 years. What has been missing is the unwavering resolve to follow it, without waiting for the garbage to reach a crisis point before acting.
