PB to scrutinize medical waste disposal in Cebu

Local

A MOVE has been taken at the Provincial Board to look into the hospital waste disposal practices in Cebu.

Board Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez III filed two resolutions on Monday, July 21, urging the Cebu Provincial Board to take immediate action.

One resolution calls for a legislative inquiry into how hospitals in the province manage infectious and hazardous waste—from collection and treatment to final disposal.

“Maybe there is a problem on where to dump it, or where to throw it, because my initial feedback is, there is a problem among towns and cities where they can put hazardous and medical wastes from the hospitals,” Martinez told reporters after the Board’s session.

In his second resolution, Martinez urged the Provincial Board to summon the Department of Health Central Visayas to brief lawmakers on national standards and procedures for managing medical waste.

The measure seeks to identify possible lapses in compliance, regulation, and oversight.

Martinez said the Board needs technical guidance to draft effective legislation and ensure that hospitals do not put communities at risk.

“We need clarity from health agencies and accountability from waste-generating facilities,” he added.

Martinez said the province must assess whether its hospitals are complying with disposal regulations and whether local government units are fully engaged in monitoring waste-handling operations.

His push follows two alarming incidents involving mishandled biomedical waste.

On June 24, residents of Barangay Libjo in Tabogon discovered yellow bags filled with used syringes, blood tubes, and dialysis tubing dumped in an open area near a public elementary and high school.

Barangay officials and the Municipal Health Office traced the waste to a private laboratory in Bogo City.

The Tabogon municipal government has since summoned the laboratory’s representatives to a Sangguniang Bayan session and plans to file charges following the investigation.

Mayor Francis Salimbangon called the incident “very alarming” and warned that improper handling of medical waste poses serious health risks to children and the wider community.

Authorities have secured the waste as part of an ongoing probe involving the local police and health officials.

Also, earlier this month, more than 300 drums of medical waste from Mandaue City were shipped to Isabel, Leyte, wherein according to a local official has not been properly coordinated to them.

Leyte Fifth District Board Member Carlo Petilla-Loreto condemned the transfer, saying it violated their Environmental Code and endangered residents.

He noted that officials only learned of the incident through media reports.

Loreto maintained that compliance with national standards does not excuse the lack of coordination with host communities.

He stressed the importance of transparency and local consent when handling hazardous materials.(MyTVCebu)