Cebu City Council Session Sees Heated Exchange Over Binaliw Landfill
A pointed exchange unfolded during a Cebu City Council executive session on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, as Councilor Jun Alcover confronted Mayor Nestor Archival regarding his previous position on the Binaliw landfill before assuming office. The tense discussion highlighted ongoing debates over waste management policies in the city.
Councilor Alcover Questions Mayor's Evolving Stance
Councilor Jun Alcover, a vocal critic of the current administration, directly questioned Mayor Archival about his earlier pronouncements when he served as a councilor. Alcover recalled specific statements in which Archival had pushed for the closure of the Binaliw landfill following numerous complaints from nearby residents.
According to Alcover, Archival had previously called for a cease-and-desist order against the landfill, citing persistent community grievances. The councilor pressed the mayor on how those earlier calls aligned with his present stance, especially since Binaliw remained Cebu City's primary waste disposal site until its collapse earlier this month.
Mayor Archival Clarifies His Position on Environmental Concerns
In response, Mayor Nestor Archival clarified that his objections during his councilor tenure were not directed at the volume of garbage being dumped at the facility. Instead, he emphasized that his concerns focused specifically on the foul odor emanating from the landfill and the numerous complaints he had received from affected residents.
The mayor explained that the issue at that time was the nuisance caused by the smell, rather than the city's overall waste output. He stressed that the concerns raised were specific to environmental and quality-of-life issues in the surrounding areas, aiming to address immediate community discomfort rather than broader waste management strategy.
Governance Realities and Waste Management Challenges
Archival also reminded the council that he has been in office for less than 200 days and highlighted that the realities of governance require difficult trade-offs, particularly in waste management. He acknowledged that while calls to shut down a landfill may resonate with public frustration, practical constraints prevent immediate action.
The mayor elaborated that Cebu City could not simply close its only major disposal facility without viable alternatives in place, given that the city generates hundreds of tons of garbage daily. This explanation underscored the complex balance between addressing environmental concerns and maintaining essential public services.
Following the exchange, Mayor Archival and Councilor Alcover shook hands, signaling a temporary resolution to the heated discussion. The session concluded with ongoing questions about how the city will address waste management challenges moving forward.
