Archival decries “bogo” tag

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has finally broken his silence over being branded a “bogo nga mayor” amid the city’s lingering garbage crisis, particularly after he ordered the temporary transfer of waste to the South Road Properties (SRP).

Archival maintained that the decision was an emergency measure following the January 8, 2026 trash slide at the Binaliw landfill, which left Cebu City without a disposal facility.

“Giingnan ko’g ‘bogo ka nga mayor kay gibutang nimo didto, baho kaayo! And what can we do? Asa man nako gibutang?” Archival told reporters in an interview, stressing that he was left with few options after several local governments refused to accept Cebu City's garbage.

Aside from using SRP as a temporary transfer station, Archival also repurposed the proposed SRP “bagsakan” for agricultural products into an eco-station, which was formally launched in June 2026.

The facility is equipped with composting machines and shredders and includes fertilizer production and Black Soldier Fly farming. It initially processed between 15 and 20 tons of garbage daily.

“I say [to] all of my friends, sa council nga this is not sustainable because we are spending about 1.2 billion to 1.4 billion per year para pag labay, pag bayad sa atong garbage padulong sa landfill,” he said.

Archival said the eco-station was designed to divert waste from landfills and save the city about P120,000 daily.

City Hall initially sought clearance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to use SRP as a temporary waste facility, but the agency denied the request, citing environmental risks.

The city then turned to a private landfill in Consolacion, but the operator later stopped accepting Cebu City's garbage due to payment issues and other concerns.

The development forced the city to temporarily bring garbage to SRP while negotiating for a disposal agreement with Aloguinsan.

When Cebu City began hauling its waste to Aloguinsan, complaints over foul odor and possible health and environmental hazards quickly emerged, prompting Archival to order the clearing of the SRP transfer area.

Garbage, however, returned to SRP after the initial Aloguinsan contract expired, triggering another wave of complaints that eventually prompted DENR inspectors to conduct an inspection, document alleged violations and impose restrictions.

Archival stressed that Cebu City has relied on landfills for waste disposal since 1998 under successive administrations and said his decisions were consistent with the city's long-standing waste management practices.

He emphasized, however, that he has long advocated composting as a more sustainable alternative. Archival recalled maintaining a composting system at his own home that processed as much as 3,000 kilos of waste.

“Unya kung naa lang siguro mga 50 kabuok pareha nako nag-compost, daghan na kay tag ma-save, right?” he said, noting that widespread adoption of composting could help reduce the city's P4.2-million daily cost of hauling garbage to Aloguinsan.

To further reduce expenses, Archival said the city had secured P145 million from the national government through the Local Government Support Fund to expand the capacity of the SRP eco-station to between 50 and 60 tons daily.

The upgraded facility is expected to become operational by December or early next year.

For now, the city continues to haul its garbage to Aloguinsan, with the former City Quarantine Center serving as its latest transfer station.

Archival said the facility is more suitable because it has a cemented area, reducing concerns over leachate, and provides easier access for garbage collection and hauling operations.

Operations at the site run from 5 p.m. to 6 a.m., with Archival saying he sometimes personally joins cleanup efforts to ensure that no garbage remains at the site by 7 a.m.

“Mura dili ko katuo ba nga ang atong mga kauban nga mga Cebuano gusto gyud mo-destroy sa atong administrasyon,” he said.

“I’m doing the best I can. I’m doing the things I need and I’m doing,” Archival added, describing his daily schedule, from 7 a.m. until midnight, as a relentless effort to find solutions to the city’s garbage crisis while continuing to attend to other public services. — Preciosa Bacalso/FPL (FREEMAN)