Cebu City finds itself in a severe waste management crisis, with Mayor Nestor Archival firmly closing the door on one potential solution. The city government will not consider waste-to-energy technology to tackle its mounting garbage problem, citing environmental concerns and a lack of clear national regulations.
A Ticking Clock and a Temporary Fix
The urgency of the situation is stark. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has ordered the closure of the landfill in Binaliw, following a tragic landslide. Cebu City now has only 30 days to temporarily dump its garbage in Consolacion. This tight deadline puts immense pressure on city officials to find a sustainable, long-term answer.
Mayor Archival defended his position in a statement to local media on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. He argued that local governments cannot hastily adopt technologies that remain controversial in the country. "We are being pushed to decide fast because of the garbage problem, but we cannot just jump into technologies that are still controversial," Archival said. He emphasized the need for the DENR to provide clear guidelines on what is acceptable, safe, and sustainable.
The Shadow of the Binaliw Tragedy
The mayor's call for DENR guidance is layered with irony. The very agency he looks to for a way out is under scrutiny for its role in the Binaliw landfill disaster. The facility's collapse has claimed 30 lives, with six individuals still missing and presumed dead under the rubble.
City Councilor Joel Garganera pointed a direct finger at the DENR's Environmental Management Bureau, stating it "did not do its job" regarding safety compliance and geotechnical assessments. The Binaliw site, originally intended as a materials recovery facility for sorting recyclables, had transformed into a massive landfill. Investigations suggest that a September earthquake and a November typhoon may have contributed to the collapse of the trash mound, which was reportedly almost 20 stories high.
Mounting Pressure and Public Scrutiny
The disaster has thrust Cebu City back into an uncomfortable international spotlight. External groups, like the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights, have issued statements calling the incident predictable, a move that has done little to comfort grieving families.
For now, the spirit of the Sinulog and Fiesta Señor celebrations provides a temporary distraction. However, analysts predict the garbage issue will return to haunt Mayor Archival's administration. When the festivities end and daily life resumes, the visual and olfactory evidence of the crisis—piling trash and the smell of decay—will become unavoidable reminders of the city's pressing challenge. The mayor's refusal of waste-to-energy, while the search for alternatives continues under a severe time constraint, places Cebu City in an increasingly difficult position.
