Jonkie orders disposal of medical waste piled up at old terminal

Local

HAZARDOUS medical waste has sat untouched for over a year at Mandaue’s old North Bus Terminal—just steps away from families displaced by a recent fire. Now, newly elected Mayor Thadeo “Jonkie” Ouano is demanding its immediate removal.

After inspecting the area on July 3, Ouano urged the service provider, the Mandaue City Environment and Natural Resources Office (MCENRO), and the Mandaue City Hospital to set a specific date for collection.

The new city chief executive stressed the urgency, noting that many residents were living nearby.

"Gawas sa medical wastes, naa pod 40 families, nga nasunogan gikan sa Barangay Looc, ang namuyo pod didto.We are now looking into this matter on our quest for a clean, safe, and better Mandaue," Ouano said.

The waste, mostly from Mandaue City Hospital, includes used syringes, blood-soaked bandages, chemical containers, and other contaminated materials sealed in yellow biohazard bags and drums.

Additional waste came from the City Health Office, barangay health centers, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Office.

According to the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro), there are 292 drums of infectious waste and 9 drums of hazardous waste now stored at the site. Of those, 151 drums came from MCH.

The waste was originally stored at the hospital but was moved to the terminal in October 2024 due to limited space.

Cenro facilitated the transfer to help the hospital comply with Department of Health protocols.

CENRO head Architect Aracelli Barlam said the delay in disposal stemmed from the closure of the city’s previous waste hauler, Pollution Abatement Systems Specialists, Inc.

A new contractor, Cleanaway Philippines Inc., is still waiting for its transport permits from the Environmental Management Bureau before it can begin operations.

While awaiting collection, the city has used its autoclave machine to sterilize some infectious waste, such as syringes.

However, hospital waste remains untreated and continues to pile up.

City Health Officer Barlam said the Mandaue City Hospital should have arranged for a third-party hauler on its own.

She noted that the hospital had already submitted its application and was now waiting for a response from the service provider.

To minimize the risk of exposure, Councilor Ouano directed the Janitorial and Security Services Unit to deploy security personnel and install physical barriers between the waste and the nearby makeshift shelters housing around 40 families.

The city said they expect the contractor to begin collecting the waste as early as next week, once its permits are approved.(MyTVCebu)