Alcover flags Binaliw River threat

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr. has raised concerns over the alleged obstruction and deteriorating water quality of the Binaliw River due to construction activities reportedly linked to the Bayanihan Flats-Orchard Drive projects in the upland barangays.

“When the issue involves a river, a legally protected river easement, and the safety of communities living beside or near a waterway, government has a continuing duty to determine what happened, whether the law was followed, and whether previous findings resulted in actual enforcement,” Alcover said in a privilege speech Tuesday.

He recalled a 2019 inspection by the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO), which found that the developers had failed to present key permits, including an Environmental Compliance Certificate and building permit. The inspection also flagged a retaining wall as inconsistent with the Water Code of the Philippines.

“A river easement is not ordinary vacant property that may be occupied or built upon whenever convenient. It serves a vital public purpose,” Alcover emphasized.

Residents later reported that construction resumed despite earlier commitments to halt the work, with additional structures, including a bridge, reportedly built across the river.

Alcover said residents of Barangay Pit-os, on the opposite side of the river, fear the developments could affect water flow, concerns that were heightened by flooding during Typhoon Tino.

“We have already witnessed how quickly waterways can become dangerous when heavy rainfall strikes. That is why we should not wait for another disaster before asking whether our rivers have been properly protected,” he said.

Residents have also reported foul odor and discoloration in the river, raising concerns over possible contamination.

“If residents who once used the river for washing clothes can no longer safely do so because of foul odor, discoloration, suspected pollution, or other changes in water quality, then this is no longer simply a question about construction permits. This becomes a question of environmental protection, public health, and the right of our communities to live in a safe and healthy environment,” Alcover stressed.

The City Council has scheduled an executive session on October 13 with CCENRO, the Office of the Building Official, City Legal Office, Picadilly Premier Land Inc., Deca Homes, King Properties Developer, the barangay captains of Binaliw and Pit-os, and affected residents.

Alcover said he hopes all invited parties will attend to clarify the matter and determine whether the structures comply with environmental and building laws and whether the river remains safe for nearby communities.

The controversy comes as Binaliw continues to grapple with the troubled history of its landfill.

Even before the deadly trash slide in January 2026, the landfill had been under scrutiny over alleged untreated leachate, methane buildup, slope instability and foul odor.

Regulators had warned that the facility was overloaded with mixed waste instead of residual waste as required by law, while council hearings documented lapses in wastewater treatment and fire suppression systems. — /FPL (FREEMAN)