‘THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY’: Cebu City dad laments collapse of WTE project

Local

THE mounting garbage proble in Cebu City has reached a point that can “no longer be ignored.”

Councilor Joel Garganera warned on Tuesday, Nov. 18, as he raised alarm over years of unresolved landfill issues, stalled reforms, and the collapse of the city’s latest Waste-to-Energy (WTE) partnership.

In a privilege speech during the council’s Nov. 18 session, Garganera, chairperson of the committee on environment, said Cebu City is running out of time to prevent “irreversible” damage brought by decades of improper waste management.

“Ang atong mga sapa puno ug basura, ang atong mga bukid gipang opawan, ug dili lang kana, gihimo pa nato ug tambakanan sa basura pinaagi sa usa ka landfill,” he said.

“Dako akong kaguol nga atong syudad hapit na mahutdan ug panahon. Duol na ta sa gitawag nga ‘point of no return.’”

Garganera stressed the lingering crisis at the Inayawan Landfill, which has remained closed since the Supreme Court ordered its shutdown in 2017 due to health risks.

Eight years later, he lamented, the site has yet to undergo a safe closure and rehabilitation because of land disputes and unresolved issues with a third-party contractor.

“Ang atong landfill sa Inayawan, susama na kini nga usa ka ticking time bomb,” he said, warning that continued delays in waste solutions could expose Cebu City to more severe environmental and public health hazards.

The WTE project, long touted as a modern alternative to landfills, suffered a major setback after private proponent NewSky withdrew from its joint venture with the city.

Garganera revealed that the company, originally responsible for funding and implementing the facility while the city provided land, has “decided not to pursue” the project after encountering bureaucratic delays, infrastructure limitations, and persistent public resistance.

“Siguro naa’y parte nga makaingon ko na sayang — WTE, the one that got away,” he said. “Pero dako akong pagtoo nga kini ang pagsugod lamang.”

He stressed that despite criticisms, the city worked to educate residents, brought technical experts to affected barangays, and sought guidance from national agencies including DENR, DOH, DOST, DOE, DA, and DILG.

Cebu City currently dumps its garbage at the privately operated Binaliw Landfill, which Garganera said has faced environmental compliance issues, including groundwater contamination verified by university testing.

He argued that WTE remains a viable long-term alternative.

“Anything that is new often faces criticisms,” he said. “Pero ato gipaningkamutan na matubag ang mga kahadlok ug kabalaka.”

The proposed P5-billion facility in Barangay Guba would have reduced garbage volume by up to 90 percent while generating electricity. Earlier projections showed the plant could produce as much as 140,000 kilowatts from 500 tons of daily waste, with Cebu City receiving 3 percent of gross power sales.

However, public acceptance remains the project’s biggest hurdle. A petition from Guba residents expressed fears of chemical emissions, respiratory illnesses, foul odors, and soil contamination.

“Kami nabalaka nga ang pag-implementar ug pag-operate sa WTE project, makahatag og mga makadaut nga kemikal sa hangin,” part of the letter read.

During public hearings, residents pushed instead for the full implementation of Republic Act 9003, which calls for waste segregation and barangay-level Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs).

Garganera acknowledged the concerns.

“Normal man na… especially maghisgot tag kabahin sa panglawas,” he said, noting that more consultations will be held, with the DOH and DENR taking lead roles in explaining safety protocols and environmental standards.

Garganera outlined several systemic barriers that need urgent action before Cebu City can successfully adopt modern waste solutions:

Infrastructure gaps, including narrow roads, poor drainage, unreliable water sources, and power limitations

Cumbersome permitting processes that take months, or even years, to complete

Weak public information efforts, which slow trust-building and heighten fear of new technologies

He urged the city to address these issues if it hopes to revive WTE plans or attract new proposals.(TGP)