THE Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-10) in Northern Mindanao has called on Cagayan de Oro City government to immediately operationalize its leachate treatment facility and activate all barangay solid waste management committees amid mounting concerns over garbage collection and landfill operations.
EMB-10 Regional Director Reynaldo Degamo issued the call during a joint meeting of the City Council committees on environment; health, nutrition and health insurance; barangay affairs; and laws and rules, which discussed Councilor Imee Rose P. Moreno’s special report on the city’s garbage management on Wednesday, May 28.
Degamo acknowledged Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez’s earlier appeal regarding the visible buildup of garbage in various areas across the city, especially following the recent holiday and election periods.
He admitted that while the city’s private waste contractor, Tencil, reportedly exceeded its contracted monthly hauling volume of 36,000 tons, the issue goes beyond just garbage collection.
“It is a heavy toll on Clenro to manage all these if we do not institutionalize what is required by law,” Degamo said, referring to the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office.
He emphasized the need for barangay-level implementation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.
While barangays such as Baikingon have shown a strong commitment to reducing waste, many others remain non-compliant, Degamo said.
He urged the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president to help mobilize all 80 barangays to fulfill their waste management responsibilities.
Degamo also raised concerns over the sustainability of the city’s P300-million annual garbage collection budget.
“That amount could have been allocated to other essential services. And garbage has no return of investment,” he said.
Addressing landfill operations, Degamo warned that Cell 2 of the city’s sanitary landfill is already closed and Cell 3 is starting to overflow beyond its high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liner.
He said dumping on unlined portions of the landfill could contaminate nearby groundwater, particularly the Iponan River.
He expressed frustration that the city’s leachate treatment facility remains non-operational due to delays in the Moresco three-phase power connection.
“Until now, the equipment and facility are still not functional,” he said.
Degamo also recommended clearer delineation of responsibilities between Clenro and the City Engineering Office (CEO), noting that landfill operations had only recently been transferred to Clenro from the CEO.
To support Clenro’s enforcement efforts, Degamo recounted how EMB-10 mediated a technical conference to ease political tensions involving barangay officials issued with notices of violation for failing to implement waste segregation at source.
He said most barangays have since complied.
Degamo also backed the regulation, not closure, of junk shops, citing their potential as partners in recyclable waste disposal.
“They can be prospective disposal areas for recyclables. We just need them to operate properly,” he said.
He ended by calling for an update to the city’s 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan, which is set to expire in 2028, to address current needs such as contracted hauling and landfill operations.
“We must all work together to minimize the volume of waste being hauled to the landfill. Only then can we extend its service life and achieve a sustainable waste management system,” Degamo said.
