Archival: Proper coordination made in Cebu City’s use of Consolacion waste facility

Local

CEBU City Mayor Nestor Archival has pushed back against claims that the City Hall acted without courtesy or coordination in its temporary use of the waste facility of Consolacion town.

Archival, in a press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 10, said Consolacion has approved Cebu City’s continued use of the Barangay Polog facility, but with a sharply reduced daily allocation—100 tons instead of the initially proposed 300 tons—as negotiations over the city’s post-Binaliw waste arrangements continue.

“There is already an agreement, but what was approved was only 100 tons,” Archival said.

He added that Cebu City has asked Consolacion officials to give the city “a chance” as it works to stabilize its garbage disposal system.

Archival said he personally spoke with Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado to clarify the situation, countering her earlier remarks that Cebu City failed to make a courtesy call before using roads and facilities within her municipality.

“I called her and told her, ‘Mayor, nag estorya man ta,’” Archival said.

He explained that Alegado was confined in a hospital at the time key discussions were held, which prevented her from directly joining negotiations.

According to Archival, Cebu City officials proceeded with talks involving the city administrator, the Department of General Services (DGS), and several councilors to avoid further delays in waste hauling following the closure of the Binaliw landfill.

“So far, as far as I’m concerned, the arrangement has been extended,” he said.

Cebu City plans to extend its stay in Consolacion until March 31, 2026, beyond the original 30-day period that was set to expire in mid-February.

The clarification comes days after Alegado publicly aired her displeasure over what she described as Cebu City’s lack of courtesy in dealing directly with Asian Energy, the private operator of the Consolacion facility, without coordinating with her office.

While she later said the issue was not personal, Alegado stressed that Cebu City trucks caused odor, congestion, and social concerns in affected barangays, and that any arrangement should have been discussed with the municipal government from the start.

She also said Cebu City shifted dumping operations to Consolacion while she was undergoing medical treatment and without her explicit consent.

Following consultations with barangay leaders, civil society groups, and facility operators, Consolacion set stricter guidelines, including a daily intake cap of 600 metric tons, with Cebu City limited to 100 to 150 tons per day, along with tighter scheduling and segregation rules.

The temporary setup is part of Cebu City’s broader effort to manage its garbage crisis after the January 8 collapse of the Binaliw landfill, which killed 36 people and forced the site’s closure under a cease-and-desist order from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Cebu City generates 500 to 600 tons of waste daily, with some estimates placing the figure even higher.

Meanwhile, Archival said the city is not yet prepared to haul waste to Aloguinsan or Toledo City despite both LGUs’ willingness to help, citing unresolved cost issues, distance, and the need to realign the city’s budget.

For now, Cebu City will operate without a separate transfer station, relying on its existing facility at the Carbon Public Market while finalizing long-term arrangements.

Reducing waste volume, Archival said, will be critical.

“The fight is really here in the city,” he said. “If we want to offset the higher hauling costs, we need to reduce the volume of waste going to the landfill.”(TGP)