AFTER discovering that infectious medical waste had been left uncollected for over a year at the Mandaue City Hospital (MCH), Mayor Thadeo “Jonkie” Ouano inspected the facility on July 2, 2025. He found hundreds of yellow bags awaiting transfer to a temporary storage site — the old North Bus Terminal in Barangay Subangdaku.
On Thursday, July 3, Ouano visited the terminal and found not only stored waste but also several families displaced by a recent fire temporarily
housed there.
The terminal now holds approximately 200 drums of medical and hazardous waste, including used syringes, blood-soaked bandages, broken fluorescent lamps, chemical containers and used medical bottles.
While most of the waste is sealed and stored in compliance with biohazard protocols, Ouano raised safety concerns due to the proximity of evacuees, especially children. He ordered the immediate installation of a physical barrier between the storage area and makeshift shelters.
According to the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro), of the 292 drums identified as infectious, 151 came from MCH, while the rest originated from the City Health Office and barangay health centers. The waste dates back to mid-2022, with further accumulation through 2024.
Cenro head Araceli Barlam clarified that MCH is independently responsible for its medical waste and should have engaged its own third-party hauler.
However, Cenro intervened in 2024 when MCH requested assistance due to space constraints. The waste transfer to the terminal began in October 2024.
Backlog
The backlog began when the City’s contract with its previous waste hauler expired in 2022. Attempts to hire a new provider were delayed by permit processing.
A new hauler has been identified but cannot begin work until transport permits are approved. Barlam said the City has continued disinfecting the waste while awaiting collection and remains compliant with national environmental regulations.
Mandaue City utilizes an autoclave machine to sterilize medical waste — a facility first used extensively during the Covid-19 pandemic. Barlam noted that while the waste was originally classified as hazardous or infectious, it has since undergone regular disinfection.
She acknowledged the delays in resolving the waste issue and attributed them to regulatory requirements, including a Memorandum of Agreement and coordination with a hauler accredited by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. She assured the public that collection could begin as early as next week and that systems will be put in place to prevent future backlogs. / CAV