Garbage collection services in Davao City have faced heavy disruptions after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ordered the shutdown of the New Carmen Sanitary Landfill, Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte announced on Thursday.
The city chief executive warned that the suspension has severely crippled local waste management operations. He cautioned that the prolonged standstill could trigger a major public health and sanitation crisis if left unresolved.
“The longer this situation continues, the greater the risk of a public health and sanitation problem, not because of the waste itself, but because of the bureaucratic inaptitude of DENR,” Duterte said.
The closure order was issued by the DENR under Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna.
While the mayor confirmed that nearby residents had already been safely evacuated to eliminate immediate hazards, he argued that a total shutdown was unnecessary.
“The threat to human life has been addressed. What remains are corrective measures that can be undertaken while allowing landfill operations to continue based on sound and practical judgement,” he added.
Duterte slammed the indefinite suspension, noting that national authorities have failed to provide a clear timeline for the facility’s reopening, leading to a massive buildup of uncollected refuse.
In a retaliatory move to manage the crisis, the mayor disclosed that the local government has designated alternative dumping sites—including the area directly outside the DENR’s own regional headquarters.
“To manage waste collection moving forward, we have identified additional collection points, including one in front of the DENR XI office, so they can personally appreciate the volume of garbage that accumulates when an essential public service is halted indefinitely,” he said.
Insisting that Davao City has consistently adhered to environmental laws, Duterte called on national agencies to apply practicality rather than rigid bureaucracy when dealing with critical public services.
“We are complying with all requirements. We only hope that decisions affecting around 750 tons of waste daily and nearly two million Dabawenyos are guided not only by regulations, but also by practical realities and common sense,” he concluded.