LAPU-LAPU City is urging regional leaders to treat the growing garbage problem as a shared emergency rather than a local one. Mayor Ma. Cynthia “Cindi” Chan warned that the region needs a unified plan to protect public health and the environment before landfill space runs out.
A call for unity
During a high-level meeting with the Regional Development Council (RDC) 7 on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, Mayor Chan presented a proposal for a coordinated, long-term solution to the solid waste crisis. She explained that managing trash has become a massive challenge that crosses city borders. “What we need now is deeper unity in vision, planning and long-term action. I respectfully call on all of us to come together, align our priorities and begin shaping a shared framework that reflects our common responsibility,” Chan said.
The rising cost of trash
The mayor highlighted two major "red flags" facing local governments: the environment is suffering and the cost of hauling trash is skyrocketing. As cities grow, they are producing more waste, but the places to put that waste are disappearing. Chan noted that these financial and environmental risks affect everyone. She believes that because our communities are connected, our solutions must be connected, too. “This issue calls for both strong local initiatives and strengthened collaboration across the entire province,” she said.
Proposed solutions for the future
To fix the problem, Lapu-Lapu City is asking the RDC 7 to prioritize projects that improve "regional mobility, housing security, environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness."
The City’s plan includes several big steps:
• Creating a Regional Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility.
• Starting a study on waste-to-energy solutions (turning trash into power).
• Building a shared sanitary landfill for multiple cities to use.
• Strengthening programs that help different local governments work together to reduce waste.
Why it matters
Mayor Chan reminded leaders that the decisions made today will impact children and grandchildren. The goal is to create a cleaner, safer region where waste is managed efficiently and sustainably. “How we deal with our waste today will define the environmental health, public safety and quality of life of the next generation,” Chan said. / DPC