Archival presses DENR approval for Cebu City transfer station

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival is pushing the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to allow the city to establish its own transfer station after neighboring local governments refused to accept Cebu City’s garbage following the closure of the Binaliw landfill.

Archival said he understands the position of the mayors of Minglanilla and Talisay City, citing the sheer volume of waste involved—about 500 to 700 tons daily—and the concerns of their constituents.

During a recent meeting with national, provincial, and local officials, Archival said it was made clear that the landfills being considered were intended solely for the host local government units and not for waste from other areas, even on a temporary basis.

“Even if temporary lang unta, it still needs to be discussed with their constituents. Ma-overwhelm gyud ang ilang landfill,” he said.

With Minglanilla and Talisay City declining to take Cebu City’s waste, Archival said the city will continue hauling garbage to a private landfill in Barangay Polog, Consolacion, which has given a conditional approval to accept waste.

He said the city is also exploring additional disposal options, including a landfill site in Aloguinsan, although this would further increase hauling costs due to the longer distance.

Archival said he plans to inform the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council next week of his proposal to reallocate P30 million from the city’s disaster fund to help cover garbage hauling expenses amid the ongoing emergency.

He added that the city will continue to seek DENR approval for the establishment of a transfer station within Cebu City, describing it as a critical short-term measure to manage waste more efficiently while longer-term solutions are being pursued.

The push follows the formal rejection by Minglanilla and Talisay City of proposals to accept Cebu City’s garbage after the deadly trash slide at the Binaliw landfill in January that killed 37 people and prompted regulators to order the facility’s closure.

Minglanilla Mayor Rajiv Enad said his municipality could not shoulder the environmental and social burden of Cebu City’s waste, citing legal constraints, limited capacity, and strong opposition from residents.

He added that the privately owned landfill in Minglanilla has been closed for three years and continues to pose environmental risks.

Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas Jr. likewise said his city could not accept waste from other LGUs, although he expressed willingness to provide logistical support, such as traffic management, if Cebu City hauls garbage farther south.

Since the closure of the Binaliw landfill, Cebu City has been generating around 600 tons of garbage daily, forcing officials to look for alternative disposal sites and significantly increasing hauling and tipping costs.

Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña earlier warned that waste disposal expenses could reach between P500 million and P700 million annually, potentially affecting funding for essential city programs. (LLP)

Photo from Nestor Archival/ Facebook