The Cebu City Government faces mounting criticism over its handling of a growing waste crisis, with Councilor Joel Garganera accusing the administration of making key environmental decisions behind closed doors. The controversy centers on the Binaliw landfill, operated by Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc., which was shut down after a catastrophic trash slide on January 8 killed 36 workers and one rescuer.
Council Left in the Dark
Garganera stated that the City Council was completely blindsided when it learned during an April 28 meeting that the landfill had been partially reopened in secret. This decision came despite the absence of a final investigation report on the January accident. The councilor expressed concern that the city would complete its probe, address safety issues, and hold responsible parties accountable before any reopening. He also raised alarms about toxic leachate leaking from the site, noting that a private contractor is currently extracting the hazardous liquid because the facility's treatment pond is nonfunctional.
"We are being purposely kept in the dark. No final investigation report. No notice of reopening. No report of safety measures in place," Garganera warned, emphasizing that the lack of transparency puts the public at risk of another disaster.
SRP Pond A Becomes Open Dumpsite
The landfill closure has triggered a secondary crisis at Pond A in the South Road Properties. The area, previously cleared of waste, is now accumulating mixed garbage again. Although designated as a temporary transfer station for trash destined for a facility in Aloguinsan, Garganera described it as an open dumpsite, posing severe risks to nearby coastal ecosystems and protected mangrove trees.
Soaring Costs for Waste Hauling
The shift in waste management has also created a significant financial burden for taxpayers. Previously, the city paid about P1,100 per ton to dump waste at Binaliw. Now, hauling trash to Aloguinsan costs an estimated P3,906 per ton—a 255% increase. Despite these expenses and the months that have passed, the city has yet to receive the full findings from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources investigation into the January tragedy.
Demand for a Transition Plan
Councilor Garganera acknowledged the garbage emergency but stressed that safety must take precedence. He urged the city to cease using SRP as a dumpsite due to legal, health, and environmental risks. To address the crisis, he formally requested the City Mayor to submit a 30-day transition plan to remove all trash from SRP. He also called for a comprehensive, long-term waste management roadmap, criticizing the reliance on short-term "band-aid" fixes. While supporting advanced solutions like waste-to-energy and improved recycling, he insisted these require robust infrastructure and consistent policies.
"We cannot tell the public that we are safe when we are still relying on temporary measures," he said.
Next Steps
To resolve the confusion, Garganera demands that the City Mayor secure and release the DENR investigation results and provide clear updates on SRP trash operations. Mayor Nestor Archival has formed a special team to verify safety conditions before the Binaliw landfill can fully reopen, reiterating that environmental protection remains a priority. Residents now await decisive action to safely clean up the mess and prevent another disaster.
