The Zero Waste Alliance Negros (ZWAN) has questioned the use of Cell No. 5 of Bacolod City’s sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa, saying its operation without a confirmed Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and a Notice to Proceed from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) could violate environmental laws.
In a statement posted August 7, the environmental group said the city had begun disposing of waste in Cell No. 5 as Cell No. 4 reached its capacity.
The group cited Section 38 of Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which states that no person may commence the operation, site preparation or construction of a new solid waste management facility, or the expansion of an existing facility, without first obtaining an ECC from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), along with other required permits and clearances.
The alliance group argued that the requirement applies not only to the construction of a facility but also to its operation, making the status of Cell No. 5’s environmental clearance a critical issue.
The group also raised concerns over Cell No. 4, which it said had already reached full capacity without an ECC.
Beyond the permitting issue, the group pointed to long-standing complaints from residents of Barangay Felisa about the landfill’s environmental and health impacts.
According to the group, residents have reported persistent foul odors from the landfill, as well as recurring headaches and stomach aches that they associate with its operations. It also cited reports of pollution in a nearby creek allegedly caused by landfill leachate.
The group said these concerns demonstrate why environmental safeguards should not be treated as mere procedural requirements.
“Environmental laws are not mere procedural requirements that may be set aside,” the organization said, stressing that the permitting process is intended to ensure that waste facilities are assessed for their environmental impacts and that risks to surrounding communities are minimized.
The Zero Waste Alliance Negros further warned that bypassing environmental requirements could set a precedent where compliance becomes optional whenever government invokes operational necessity or public welfare.
The group said the city cannot justify continued disposal of mixed waste solely on the basis of public need if doing so potentially exposes communities to environmental and public health risks.
It also called on the DENR-EMB to enforce the requirements under RA 9003 and Presidential Decree 1586, the law establishing the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System.
“We call on the DENR-EMB to protect the environment and the communities bearing the impacts of the pollution by enforcing the law as stipulated under RA 9003 and P.D. 1586,” the group said.
The organization likewise urged the Bacolod City government to strengthen its implementation of the ecological solid waste management hierarchy under RA 9003, arguing that the landfill problem goes beyond limited disposal space.
It said the recurring waste crisis in the village reflects the need to reduce waste generation, improve segregation at source, expand recycling and composting, and divert more waste away from landfills.
The group maintained that continued expansion of landfill capacity without addressing these systemic concerns could only prolong the city’s waste management problem.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.