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Cebu City officials said there is no formal proposal to build a waste-to-energy facility in Barangay Binaliw, even as they reiterated that the technology remains under consideration as a long-term solution to the city’s worsening garbage crisis.
Mayor Nestor Archival clarified in a press conference that City Hall has no existing plan or official proposal to construct a waste-to-energy (WTE) facility in Barangay Binaliw, where a trash slide last month killed 36 people, injured 18 others, and claimed the life of a rescuer.
The clarification came amid a signature campaign launched by Binaliw residents on February 8, 2026, exactly 30 days after the tragedy, calling for the permanent closure of the landfill and opposing any WTE project in the area.
“I sympathize with them,” Archival said, referring to residents. “Bag-o ra gyud sila naigo didto, sila man gyud ang pinaka-apektado. That is their right.” (“They were just recently hit there, and they are the most affected.”)
WTE Remains An Option
He stressed that reports about a planned WTE facility in Binaliw did not originate from City Hall.
“I don’t have information that there will be a WTE facility built there. It was not information coming from City Hall. Maybe gikan ra na sa mga estorya,” he said. “Wala ta kabalo if naa ba gyud.” (“Maybe that just came from talk. We don’t know if there really is.”)
While clarifying the absence of a proposal, Archival maintained that he is not opposed to WTE technology in principle. “I’m not against WTE, ug unsay aprobahan sa mga national agencies nga angay, well, I will just go with it…I don’t have problems with that,” he said. (“And whatever the national agencies approve as appropriate, well, I will just go with it.”)
“If there is WTE technology, give us the directions. If that is one of the solutions, then we want it,” he said in an earlier press conference.
WTE refers to technologies that generate energy from non-recyclable waste through processes such as incineration, gasification, pyrolysis, or anaerobic digestion. While often promoted as a way to reduce landfill dependence, such projects have faced criticism over costs and potential environmental and health risks.
Demand For Justice, Zero-Waste Solutions
The petition launched by Binaliw residents was addressed to Barangay Captain Vivian Ruste, Mayor Archival, the Cebu City Council, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). It calls for a full investigation into the disaster and urges authorities to abandon plans that would further burden the community.
“While we acknowledge your statement that you are open to hosting a WTE facility provided certain conditions are met, we believe that Binaliw has already suffered more than enough from waste-related disasters and environmental risks. Barangay Binaliw should not be treated as a sacrifice zone for Cebu City’s waste problems,” the petition read.
Residents also urged the government to prioritize “zero-waste” strategies in line with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (Republic Act 9003).
Councilor Joel Garganera, chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Environment, acknowledged the difficulty residents face in trusting new waste technologies after the tragedy. “Lisud sa ilang sitwasyon nga musalig nasad sa laing pamaagi o teknolohiya,” Garganera said. (“It is difficult in their situation to trust another method or technology again.”)
Garbage Crisis
Despite strong opposition from residents, both Archival and Garganera have described WTE as a potential long-term solution to Cebu City’s garbage problem. “As it is right now, open dumpsite ra gyud ang alternative,” Garganera said. (“As it is right now, the only alternative is an open dumpsite.”)
In the interim, Archival said the city is pursuing waste reduction measures, including composting biodegradable waste and piloting shredders and composters at the Carbon Public Market. He also noted that during a January 22 meeting attended by Governor Pamela Baricuatro and other local officials, DENR Secretary Lotilla expressed openness to crafting national guidelines on WTE.
“Everything that’s beneficial to everyone, the city government is open to it,” the mayor said.
For now, Cebu City continues to rely on Consolacion for final waste disposal, as investigations into the Binaliw tragedy proceed and debates over the future of waste management intensify.
Source:
https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/696120/no-wte-facility-plan-in-binaliw-archival