Cebu City to continue using SRP pond as garbage transfer station

Local

THE garbage pile at the South Road Properties (SRP) near Pond A has been cleared, but the Cebu City government may continue using the area as a temporary nighttime transfer station while it searches for a permanent landfill.

Mayor Nestor Archival confirmed this on Monday, March 16, after inspecting the site following his earlier order to remove the accumulated waste.

The cleanup was carried out after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) objected to the city’s use of the area as a dumping ground.

“We are trying to negotiate with the DENR if the area can be used as a temporary transfer station,” Archival said.

Under the proposed arrangement, garbage trucks would unload waste at the site only during specific hours at night before the trash is hauled to a landfill outside the city.

“Magbutang gihapon ta og transfer station… at 9 in the evening and it will be done starting 5 p.m. So inig kaadlaw wala nay garbage dinha,” the mayor said.

The goal, he explained, is to ensure that no waste remains at the site during the daytime, addressing complaints about odor and sanitation.

Department of Public Services (DPS) head John Paul Gelasque said the city met its March 15 deadline to clear the temporary trash buildup at SRP.

The stockpile formed after the sudden shutdown of disposal options earlier this year, including the landfill in Barangay Binaliw following a deadly trash slide in January.

Gelasque said the city has since tightened garbage collection schedules and ensured that waste is immediately hauled to a landfill in Aloguinsan, about 60 kilometers from Cebu City.

He also said crews are now required to clear the SRP area by 5 a.m. daily to minimize odor and environmental impact.

Moreover, local officials are negotiating with regulators regarding a possible transfer station in Barangay Inayawan.

However, Archival said discussions are ongoing and no final approval has been secured.

“Klatong sa Inayawan they are still negotiating… if pwede ba,” the mayor said.

If the proposal is not approved, the city will seek permission from the DENR to continue using the SRP Pond A area as a temporary transfer point under stricter conditions.

For now, Cebu City still does not have a confirmed site for a permanent landfill.

Archival said the city government is actively searching for a location closer to the city to reduce the high cost of transporting garbage to Aloguinsan.

He noted that Cebu City spends about P500 million annually on garbage collection and disposal, but the cost has nearly doubled due to the longer hauling distance.

“Considering ni-double ang cost… muhangyo ta og supplemental budget,” he said, adding that the city may request an additional P500 million to P600 million from the City Council.

A nearer landfill site, the mayor said, would significantly reduce expenses.

Meanwhile, the possible reopening of the Binaliw landfill is still under review after the City Council endorsed the site for further technical evaluation.

Archival said additional requirements have been imposed and are currently being processed.

“For me as the mayor, gusto ta malimpyo ang syudad and at the same time follow requirements,” he said.

The mayor also appealed to large companies in Cebu City to temporarily manage their own waste while the city government works to stabilize its disposal system.

Cebu City generates an estimated 600 tons of garbage daily, putting pressure on its waste management system after the Binaliw landfill collapse disrupted disposal operations earlier this year.

The SRP site near Pond A was used as an emergency holding area where garbage collected from barangays was temporarily unloaded before being transported to landfills outside the city.

However, environmental regulators earlier warned that the location is not designed for waste storage and may violate provisions of Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

Despite these concerns, city officials maintain that the facility is only meant to serve as a temporary transfer point while Cebu City continues searching for a long-term solution to its garbage problem.(TGP)