Gasataya leaves Victorias waste deal to Bacolod SP

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Mayor Greg Gasataya said he will respect the decision of the Sangguniang Panlungsod on the proposed memorandum of agreement between Victorias City, Negros Occidental, and the Bacolod City government for the disposal of residual waste here.

The MOA, already endorsed by the Bacolod Solid Waste Management Board, is under committee review by the SP Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government, with technical concerns taking priority.

During Monday’s flag-raising ceremony, Gasataya addressed questions and concerns raised by Bacolod residents over the proposal, saying he understood public sentiment but took exception to those who were “creating malice” around the issue.

Gasataya said Victorias City Mayor Abelardo Bantug III wrote him in November 2025 to ask whether Bacolod could help dispose of and manage Victorias’ residual waste at the city’s sanitary landfill while the northern Negros city continues to develop its long-term waste management infrastructure.

Gasataya said Victorias initially asked to dispose of six to eight cubic meters of compacted residual waste once a month for one year at Bacolod’s sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa.

“It’s equivalent to one truck. This is primarily to help another local government,” the mayor said.

Gasataya also dismissed reports concerning the city’s compensation under the proposed agreement.

He said the proposal provides that Victorias City would pay Bacolod City PHP 1,000 per cubic meter of waste disposed.

Gasataya also stressed that the MOA has nothing to do with Bacolod’s PHP 4-billion waste-to-energy project.

He said the welfare of Bacolod residents remains the city government’s priority, adding that he wanted to clarify the issue to avoid misconceptions.

“What is important is what is good for the city,” he said.

Under the proposed agreement, Victorias City would be allowed to dispose of up to 30 cubic meters of residual waste per month for one year at the sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa.

The city government said the landfill has sufficient capacity, especially with the expected opening of Sanitary Landfill Cell No. 5.

The proposal comes as local governments continue to face stricter demands under Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which requires the proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste.

Councilor Al Victor Espino, chair of the SP Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government, said the board’s endorsement is merely recommendatory.

Espino said the committee will invite concerned officials to brief members and explain the technical aspects of the proposed contract.

“I also hope the entire SP will be properly informed so all technical questions can be addressed,” he said.

Espino said similar arrangements are not unique to Bacolod, citing Metro Manila, where local governments also rely on disposal arrangements because landfill space is limited and costly.

He said Bacolod is among the few local governments in the region capable of operating its own sanitary landfill.

While he expressed support for the proposal in principle, Espino said the committee will still scrutinize the agreement’s technical and financial provisions before endorsing it to the SP.

“I have no problem with the proposal once the technical aspects are addressed. It will ultimately be up to the SP to decide based on the merits of the proposal,” Espino said.

Espino also urged the public to avoid drawing conclusions based solely on emotion, especially on social media.

He said the proposal should be properly evaluated instead of being reduced to misconceptions that Bacolod would become another city’s dumping ground.

“I hope our constituents will be properly guided and that technical aspects should prevail. Some people are saying Bacolod will become a dumping ground, but I don’t think they fully understand the terms involved,” the councilor said.

The Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment and the newly formed Alyansa Kontra Basura have expressed concern over the proposed waste disposal agreement, citing Bacolod’s growing waste management challenges and the possible impact on public health and the environment.