The South Road Properties (SRP) in Cebu City is a source of pride, hosting major businesses, open-air restaurants, and recreational areas like a new fun park. However, during a recent motorcycle ride along the coast behind Il Corso, instead of fresh sea air, the stench of garbage was overwhelming.
Impact on Tourism and Business
Who would want to dine or stroll when every breath carries the smell of trash? This situation discourages visitors and could severely harm tourism and local businesses in the area. Billions of pesos have been invested by entrepreneurs, but flies and the odor of rotting waste could drive customers away.
Council Action
Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover Jr. has filed a resolution for the environment committee to investigate the renewed accumulation of large volumes of garbage at Pond A in SRP. This site was intended only as a temporary transfer station, where waste should not stay longer than 24 hours before being transported to Aloguinsan. Instead, garbage has piled up for an extended period, even spilling into nearby mangroves, threatening the coastal ecosystem and wildlife. This appears to violate a previous order from the DENR-EMB 7 banning waste dumping in the area.
Accountability and Solutions
It is crucial to determine who is responsible—private haulers, barangays, contractors, or city departments. Transparency in hauling contracts and a sustainable solution are needed to prevent recurrence. The SRP, a symbol of modern progress in Cebu, must not become a dumping ground. Once the resolution is approved, the Office of Mayor Nestor Archival, Department of Public Services, Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office, and Pinoy Basurero Corporation should act promptly.
