Victorias cancels Bacolod waste deal after backlash

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Victorias City Mayor Abelardo Bantug III announced Wednesday that the city is withdrawing its request to dispose of residual waste at the sanitary landfill here amid concerns raised by the public over the proposal.

In a statement posted on social media, Bantug said he made the decision after hearing the sentiments of the people of Bacolod, particularly residents of Barangay Felisa, where the sanitary landfill is located.

“Ako ang nagpangayo sini, kag ako man ang nagabawi,” Bantug said, adding that he had already sent a letter to Mayor Greg Gasataya formalizing the withdrawal of their request.

Bantug noted that the Department of the Interior and Local Government has recognized that it is not economical for every local government unit to build and operate its own sanitary landfill, citing Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which encourages LGUs to share facilities, the same principle behind the provincial landfill in La Castellana.

He said the proposal came after a partnership with a neighboring LGU ended and that Victorias needed a legal and safe alternative while its own facility is underway and targeted to be operational by 2027.

Bantug said their request to Bacolod was legal, transparent, temporary, and paid for.

The documents set a ceiling of 30 cubic meters a month, but the actual plan was one midsized compactor truck, or around 10 cubic meters, he added.

Bantug said Victorias’ entire month of residual waste is less than what the Felisa landfill receives in a single hour of a single day.

“Our request was legal and small, long like brothers,” he added.

However, due to the concerns of the people and village residents, Bantug said he would not allow it to become a source of conflict between two cities that have long been brothers.

“Ila ina nga lugar kag may kinamatarong sila nga ipabutyag ang ila kabalaka,” Bantug said, stressing the importance of the relationship between the two LGUs despite the inconvenience.

Bantug assured residents that despite the cancellation of the proposal, Victorias City will stand on its own, and garbage collection across the city will continue without interruption.

“Sa akon mga kasimanwa nga Victoriasanon: ang aton pinaka-maayo nga sabat sa sini nga isyu indi away, kundi aksyon,” he said, as he urged the people of Victorias to segregate waste at home and recycle.

“Kaya ini sang tanan na Victoriasanon,” Bantug said.

He thanked Gasataya and the Bacolod Solid Waste Management Board for their openness to help a fellow LGU, and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office for doing its job properly in accordance with the law.

He also expressed his full respect for the process of the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Two groups were alarmed over the proposed waste deal, citing environmental and health concerns, as well as the growing waste management challenges in Bacolod.

The public also took to social media to express opposition to the proposal, saying Bacolod is not a dumping site.

Gasataya has acknowledged these sentiments and stressed the importance of the welfare of the people of Bacolod.

Republic Act 9003 mandates the systematic and ecological management of solid waste, including segregation, collection, transport, treatment, and disposal, while sanitary landfills are required to be designed and operated with engineering and environmental controls.

Bacolod’s Barangay Felisa sanitary landfill has also been the focus of recent waste management measures, including efforts to extend its operational life and improve residual waste management.

Meanwhile, the Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment, one of the groups that raised concerns over the proposal, acknowledged the development and commended Bantug for making the decision.

“This is a testament to what citizens can achieve when they stand together for what is right,” the group said in a statement.

The group said its campaign showed that public participation is not merely symbolic — it has the power to influence decisions and protect communities.

It also recognized the people of Barangay Felisa, whose voices, lived experiences, and unwavering courage brought much-needed attention to the realities surrounding the sanitary landfill.

“Their persistence in speaking out strengthened this campaign and reminded us that those most affected must be heard and prioritized in public decision-making,” it added.

The group said it remains vigilant over Bacolod City’s waste management, as recent events have unearthed longstanding issues concerning the sanitary landfill, including environmental and health concerns.

It also reiterated its call for the Bacolod City government to fully enforce Republic Act 9003, reject false solutions such as waste incinerators, and implement a zero-waste system.

The group expressed willingness to work with the city government, barangays, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders in advancing the full implementation of Republic Act 9003 through community education, waste reduction initiatives, segregation at source, composting, and other zero-waste solutions.

It stressed that the environment is a shared responsibility, and lasting solutions can only be achieved through genuine collaboration and political will.

This victory is a reminder that environmental justice is possible when communities stand together, but the fight does not end here, the group said.