Cebu City ends waste standoff with Mabolo after tense blockade

A dispute over waste management at Block 27 in Cebu City's North Reclamation Area has been settled after days of tension. The conflict began when city workers barred Mabolo barangay trucks from dumping unsegregated waste, leading to protests and a temporary blockade. Officials later reached an agreement in a closed-door meeting between Mayor Nestor Archival and Barangay Captain Daniel Francis Arguedo.

The row started on February 18, 2026, when city staff stopped Mabolo's garbage trucks from entering Block 27. They cited violations of waste segregation rules. In response, barangay personnel blocked the main gate the next day and dumped waste from six trucks at the entrance.

Residents had already raised concerns about foul smells from decomposing waste, particularly biodegradable material from Carbon Market. Barangay officials questioned why they were not consulted earlier and warned of potential health risks to nearby communities.

The standoff ended after a private meeting between the mayor and the barangay captain. Under the new agreement, Mabolo can dispose of biodegradable waste at Block 27, but mixed waste must still go to the South Road Properties (SRP) landfill. Stricter monitoring by the barangay will also be enforced.

The meeting also covered unrelated issues, including long-delayed road repairs. The city pledged to speed up asphalt deliveries for damaged streets in Mabolo.

This dispute comes after the deadly Binaliw landfill slide on January 8, which killed 36 people and forced the site's closure. Since then, Cebu City has been transporting 1,000 tons of daily waste 61 km to Aloguinsan, raising costs from P1,100 to P3,906 per ton. Monthly expenses soared from P19.8 million to P117.18 million, straining budgets and infrastructure. While the city council approved reopening a 3-hectare section of Binaliw under tighter rules on February 23, operations remain halted pending investigations.

The agreement allows biodegradable waste disposal at Block 27 with stricter oversight, while mixed waste continues to be sent to SRP. The resolution eases immediate tensions but leaves broader waste management challenges unresolved. Cebu City still faces high transport costs and infrastructure pressures after the Binaliw landfill closure.