EMB Flags Cagayan de Oro Landfill for Violations

The Environmental Management Bureau in Northern Mindanao (EMB-10) has issued a show cause order to Cagayan de Oro Mayor Rolando “Klarex” Uy over environmental violations at the Pagalungan Sanitary Landfill, according to a report from Gold Star Daily.

In a letter dated January 7, 2025, EMB Regional Director Reynaldo Digamo detailed the findings of an inspection conducted on October 22, 2024, in Barangay Buracan, Pagalungan.

The inspection revealed that a 7,000-square-meter extension of Cell 2 has been in use since June 2024 without the required high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liner, violating Section 41 of Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

The EMB also reported that the landfill’s wastewater treatment facility, which was commissioned on August 7, 2024, has remained non-operational.

Pollution Risk to Nearby Waterways

The EMB warned that the untreated leachate from the landfill was contaminating Buracan Creek and Iponan River, posing a significant environmental hazard.

“The non-operational status of the Water Treatment Facility resulted in uncontrolled discharges of untreated leachate causing contamination of nearby waterbody particularly Buracan Creek and Iponan River. The City’s sanitary landfill is the closest water pollution source,” the show cause order stated.

As a result, the EMB directed the city government to cease operations at the Cell 2 extension, citing the absence of an HDPE liner, leachate, and gas pipes.

The bureau also warned of escalating the issue to the Environmental Ombudsman if the city fails to provide a satisfactory explanation.

Clenro Responds to EMB Findings

City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro) Chief Armin Cuenca, in a video statement, said that they received the EMB letter only on January 15, 2025, and have since responded to the agency.

Cuenca explained that the lack of an HDPE liner was due to delays in the construction of Cell 3, which required budget approval under Mayor Uy’s administration.

He also clarified that construction equipment needed temporary access through Cell 2’s southern portion, which was later halted on December 12, 2024.

Regarding the non-operational wastewater treatment facility, Cuenca cited delays in securing a three-phase electricity connection. He assured that the contractor has committed to resolving the issue before March 31, 2025.

“Kami sa Clenro wala mi mahimo kung wala pay kuryente pero among paningkamotan nga bisan wala pa ang kuryente aron lamang nga dili pa mapuno kay La Niña na raba sad. Ting ulan na. Aron dili mapuno ang atong leachate, kami among i-assure nga sa kanunay among ire-circulate ang maong mga leachate,” Cuenca said.

(We at Clenro cannot do anything without electricity, but we will do our best to manage the situation even without power to prevent the leachate from overflowing, especially since La Niña is here. It’s already the rainy season. To keep the leachate from overflowing, we assure that we will continuously re-circulate it.)

Despite the EMB’s warnings, the city government has vowed to comply with environmental regulations and resolve the landfill’s issues to avoid further legal consequences.

The EMB’s enforcement of waste management laws underscores the need for strict compliance with solid waste and pollution control regulations, particularly as environmental concerns mount in Cagayan de Oro.