MAJORITY Floor Leader Edgar Cabanlas did not mince words during the 13th regular session of the Cagayan de Oro City Council on Oct. 6, calling the Pagalungan landfill “pinakapangit nga landfill sa tibook kalibutan.”
The remark came as councilors continued to discuss the city’s growing solid waste management and garbage problems. Cabanlas pointed out that the Pagalungan landfill itself has become part of the problem.
“It should not be there. It is very near the river, it’s very unsanitary and it would influence the quality of water,” he said.
Cabanlas noted that the original plan was to establish the landfill in Pagatpat, but it was later moved to Pagalungan without proper evaluation.
“Wala gyud ni naatiman pag-ayo. Ang location lang daan pangpang, grabe kaayo nga problema,” he said.
He reiterated that “kana atong landfill maoy pinakapangit nga landfill sa tibook kalibutan,” drawing laughter from Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez during the session.
Cabanlas urged the city government to find a more suitable and viable site for waste disposal, suggesting that “because the city is growing up, becoming a metro city, let’s have two landfills—one in the west side, one on the east side.”
Councilor Maximo Rodriguez added that the committee on environment has already discussed the establishment of another landfill in District 2.
He said he proposed putting it in Bugo, where Chairman Spencer Cailing has offered a lot for the project.
The Pagalungan landfill, once recognized by then-Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu as the best in the Philippines, has since drawn criticism from local officials for its deteriorating condition and poor location.
