DPS: Garbage collection ongoing at Cebu City Sports Center

DESPITE the conclusion of the Sinulog 2025 festivities five days ago, the Department of Public Services (DPS) is still working to collect the remaining piles of garbage at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC), which has been ongoing for the past three days.

DPS head Paul Gelasque told SunStar Cebu in a phone interview on Friday, January 24, 2025, that a 10-wheeler truck has been assigned to collect the accumulated waste at the CCSC.

However, Gelasque explained that he could not deploy all DPS trucks to the CCSC, as other key Sinulog areas, including billeting quarters, also require attention.

“Kana diha, akong gituyo nga pabalikbalikan nako’g usa ka truck kay daghan pa kaayo kog kuhaanan nga schools, mga billeting quarters, establishments,” he said.

(I intentionally assigned just one truck to repeatedly collect garbage there because I still have to cover schools, billeting quarters, and various establishments.)

He added that due to the sheer volume of waste, not all garbage has been collected yet.

Gelasque’s statement came hours after SunStar posted photos taken by junior journalist Zhan Francisco Ramirez showing piles of uncollected trash at the CCSC.

He assured the public that all garbage at the CCSC would be collected by Saturday, January 25.

Aside from the CCSC, the DPS has also been collecting garbage from other Sinulog-related areas, including the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño, Colon night market, Juana Osmeña Street, Mango Avenue, and Ramos Street.

When asked about the total volume of garbage collected so far, Gelasque said he had yet to update his records. (JPS)