Minglanilla Mayor Rajiv Enad has publicly rejected a proposal to designate his municipality as a temporary garbage disposal site for Cebu City, as the province grapples with a severe waste management crisis following the closure of the Binaliw landfill. This announcement came after the mayor attended an emergency meeting on Thursday, January 22, 2026, convened to address the escalating situation.
Emergency Meeting Addresses Provincial Waste Crisis
The high-level gathering included key officials such as Secretary Raphael Lotilla from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, and other regional and provincial leaders. During the discussions, potential alternative waste disposal locations were examined, with Minglanilla emerging as one of the considered options due to its geographical proximity and existing infrastructure challenges.
Mayor Enad Voices Strong Opposition
In a firm stance, Mayor Enad articulated the collective voice of Minglanillahanons, delivering a resounding rejection of the plan. "With all humility and honesty, I spoke up in the meeting, bringing with me the voice of Minglanillahanons in giving a resounding NO to their proposal," he stated. The mayor emphasized that it is unreasonable for a small town like Minglanilla to bear the burden of waste from a much larger city like Cebu, highlighting the inherent inequities in such an arrangement.
He further clarified that Minglanilla itself faces significant waste management issues, currently relying on the City of Naga for disposal services. The municipality's private landfill has been closed for three years due to a lack of operating permits and the operator's failure to meet contractual obligations, exacerbating local environmental concerns.
Long-Term Environmental and Health Risks
Mayor Enad expressed deep concerns about the potential long-term impacts, drawing from past experiences with landfill problems in the area. "They say the set-up would be temporary. But, having experienced it before... we in Minglanilla know that the detrimental impact on our environment, and possibly on public health, would be long-term," he added. Residual waste from the closed landfill continues to pose threats, with leakage risks endangering water supplies and public health in the community.
Provincial Government Responds and Explores Alternatives
In response to the mayor's appeals, Governor Baricuatro and the Provincial Government of Cebu have agreed to remove Minglanilla from the list of potential waste disposal sites. Mayor Enad expressed gratitude for this decision, acknowledging the provincial leadership's willingness to listen to the municipality's concerns and prioritize local welfare.
Currently, Cebu City and the DENR are actively searching for other viable locations to relocate the city's accumulating waste. Meanwhile, Governor Baricuatro has initiated discussions with various stakeholders to advance plans for establishing a Waste-to-Energy (WTE) facility in the province. This proposed facility aims to provide a permanent and sustainable solution to Cebu's ongoing garbage disposal challenges, potentially transforming waste management practices in the region.
The situation underscores the broader waste management crisis in Cebu, highlighting the need for collaborative, long-term strategies that balance urban needs with environmental protection and community health.
