CEBU CITY — Cebu City is reviewing P130 million in unpaid bills to PrimeWaste Solutions, operator of the Binaliw sanitary landfill, as negotiations between the city government and the company remain stalled.
City Administrator Briccio Joseph Boholst has begun examining the documents related to the outstanding payments to determine what needs to be corrected, said Kenneth Siasar, chief of staff of Mayor Nestor Archival.
“Gitan-aw sa atong bag-ong city administrator kung unsay need rectify sa mga documents nga P130 million nato nga accountability ngadto sa PrimeWaste,” Siasar said.
He added that there has been no update on negotiations with the landfill operator.
“Sa pagkakaron wala ta'y update in terms of the negotiation between Cebu City government and ang Prime Waste,” he said.
City seeks to reduce garbage
The unpaid bills date back to the previous administration. PrimeWaste has reportedly refused to accept the city's garbage, prompting Cebu City to haul its waste to a landfill in Aloguinsan.
To reduce dependence on landfill disposal, the city recently held a solid waste management summit focused on encouraging barangays to manage their waste through segregation, recycling, and other diversion measures.
Siasar said the goal is to reduce the volume of garbage generated by communities and strengthen waste management at the barangay level.
Waste disposal alternatives under study
City officials are also considering whether to retain the existing landfill arrangement or find an alternative disposal site. Siasar said proposals have reached the Mayor's Office, but these options would require time to evaluate and implement.
The city is likewise reviewing a waste-processing project previously endorsed by Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña. Archival is assessing the project's potential benefits and feasibility, Siasar said.
The proposed system is estimated to cost between P350 million and P400 million and would be implemented in phases. Officials are exploring possible funding sources, including loans, while awaiting support from the City Council.
Council to assess waste technologies
Siasar said suppliers may be invited to present their waste-processing technologies to the City Council. This would allow council members to compare available equipment and determine which system best suits Cebu City's needs.
For now, the review of the P130-million outstanding obligation and the stalled negotiations with PrimeWaste remain unresolved as the city considers longer-term solutions to its waste disposal challenges.
