Waste Dispute Escalates as Mabolo Barangay Blocks Cebu City Facility Access
A standoff over waste disposal protocols has intensified, with Mabolo barangay personnel blocking access to a Cebu City-owned facility in the North Reclamation Area. Tensions flared after city workers prevented barangay garbage trucks from entering Block 27, a temporary waste segregation and composting site, leading to barangay personnel dumping solid waste at the facility's entrance.
Immediate Conflict and Response
The dispute began on Wednesday night, February 18, when City Hall personnel instructed Mabolo truck drivers to stop using Block 27 for waste disposal, citing a new waste management arrangement that designates the area for segregation, shredding, and composting only. In response, on Thursday morning, February 19, barangay personnel blocked the main gate and unloaded garbage, preventing trucks from other barangays from entering. A security guard reported that six garbage trucks from Mabolo dumped waste around 8 a.m., with Department of Public Services personnel later removing approximately 10 tons to restore access.
Lack of Communication and Prior Notice
Mabolo Barangay Captain Daniel Francis Arguedo challenged the sudden enforcement of the ban, stating that his barangay received no prior notice about the protocol change. He contended that trucks were already fully loaded when turned away and claimed he had secured verbal approval from a City Hall representative, Rene Sanapo, to use the property for waste segregation and decomposition to reduce trash sent to a private landfill in Barangay Polog, Consolacion. Arguedo, who is not allied with Mayor Nestor Archival, emphasized that Mabolo had been routinely using Block 27 for weeks due to restrictions at the Polog landfill and sent unanswered letters seeking clarification, including one dated February 9.
City's Stance on Control Measures
Mayor Nestor Archival defended strict controls at Block 27, arguing they are necessary to prevent the facility from becoming an unregulated dumpsite. While acknowledging its role as a composting area, he warned that unrestricted dumping by barangays would overwhelm the property. Archival reiterated that shredding and composting are permitted, but mass dumping of mixed waste is not allowed. He visited the area to inspect nearby facilities and attend a groundbreaking ceremony, reinforcing the city's position.
Systemic Challenges in Waste Management
This confrontation highlights broader issues in Cebu City's waste disposal system, which has faced pressure since a deadly trash slide at a private landfill in Barangay Binaliw on January 8. The city currently relies on an off-site disposal site in Polog and may start hauling to another private facility in Aloguinsan. Similar coordination lapses have occurred elsewhere, such as in Barangay Cogon Pardo, where trucks collected waste without notifying local officials, raising concerns about favoritism and accountability breakdowns.
Future Strategies and Funding
City Hall is pursuing a dual-landfill strategy to manage daily waste volumes, planning to send about 150 tons daily to the Consolacion landfill and potentially 300 tons to the Aloguinsan landfill. To support long-term solutions, the city secured a P40 million grant from the Asian Development Bank to hire consultants for assessing and improving waste management practices. In the interim, officials urge barangays to use shredders available at the Carbon Market and South Road Properties to enhance composting and reduce disposal site loads.
