Cebu's Waste Management Crisis: A Personal Account from the Saddle
As a cycling enthusiast who began pedaling seriously in late 2009, Barangay Cabangahan in Consolacion was a regular route for me due to its proximity and manageable distance from my home. There were occasions when I found myself near the area where Cebu City's garbage was being dumped.
The stench was unbearable, and while I was panting heavily from exertion, I couldn't avoid inhaling the foul-smelling air. I suffered. I have deliberately avoided that place ever since. Even my children complain about the odor when we pass near the area.
From Consolacion to Binaliw: The Shifting Burden of Waste
The landfill was eventually relocated to Barangay Binaliw. However, I never attempted to pass through there because I remembered my experience in Consolacion. It's not easy to breathe in extremely foul air while you're gasping for breath from physical exertion. It's like being forced to swallow food you don't want to eat.
I wasn't surprised to learn why residents of Consolacion, where Cebu City's garbage is currently being dumped, oppose the disposal. The local government unit has clarified that this arrangement is only temporary.
Community Resistance and Environmental Lessons
Barangay Inayawan has already expressed opposition after discovering that Inayawan is being made into a transfer station. They have experienced the negative effects of garbage firsthand.
I cannot imagine if the municipalities of Minglanilla and Aloguinsan also become dumping sites for waste from the province and city of Cebu. I have seen the severe environmental impact of excessive garbage in the coming years.
The Inayawan Legacy: A Cautionary Tale
What happened at the Inayawan landfill is a very clear example of the negative effects of garbage on the environment. We bike enthusiasts used to practice cycling there. There's a 3.2-kilometer road length in the area located opposite the landfill.
Even though the landfill hasn't been used for garbage disposal for a long time, the stench from waste dumped over many years still lingers. It has damaged the surroundings, and it will take many more years before the area can recover.
Local government units, such as Minglanilla and Aloginsan, need to learn lessons about the negative impacts of landfills or being made into dumping sites for garbage in their respective areas. Ask the people of Inayawan how difficult their experience has been.
Even we residents of Barangay Bacayan, when garbage was dumped in Binaliw, suffered from the stench of passing trucks, leaking fluids on the road, and garbage falling from trucks. It's also unpleasant to hear that Cebu City's garbage is being dumped in another LGU.
