Sanitation crews hauled nearly 1,000 tons of garbage from streets and parade routes following the Sinulog Grand Parade on Sunday, January 18, marking one of the city’s largest post-festival cleanups in recent years.
Mayor Nestor Archival said the city’s typical daily waste of 500 to 600 tons nearly doubled during the celebration, which drew an estimated 5.2 million attendees, according to the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Crews worked through major thoroughfares, including P. Del Rosario, Osmeña Boulevard, General Maxilom, and Imus Avenue, clearing debris by early Monday with coordinated efforts from the Department of Public Services, Barangay Enforcement Office, Emergency Environmental Response Team, and street sweepers.
City Councilor Joel Garganera, chairman of the City Council’s environment committee, said crews collected about 300 tons of festival-related trash in addition to the daily waste.
However, since the Binaliw landfill in Cebu City was closed, much of the garbage was temporarily transported to Consolacion.
Volunteers helped segregate recyclables, particularly plastic bottles, and sent them to proper facilities for processing.
Despite the cleanup, litter remained in some areas.
Garganera and Archival urged residents and visitors to dispose of waste responsibly, noting that large events like Sinulog provide opportunities for environmental awareness.
Archival also addressed operational challenges during the festivities, including limited sanitation facilities, insufficient water stations, overcrowded grandstand entrances, and poor ventilation in emergency and medical areas.
Minor injuries affected performers and propsmen, while reports of petty theft circulated on social media.
Celebrity movements on floats caused brief congestion, with some performers stopping to interact with spectators.
For future celebrations, Archival said the city plans to require each festival contingent to organize its own cleanup team, expand restrooms and hydration stations, improve ventilation, and prevent celebrities from leaving floats during the parade.
The city also relocated its shredding machine to support composting and has requested additional equipment from the national government.
“Sinulog 2026 succeeded despite these challenges,” Archival said, praising the coordinated efforts of city agencies, the Sinulog Foundation Inc., and law enforcement for maintaining a smooth and peaceful festival.
