RESIDENTS and a local official raised alarm after used medical waste, including syringes and other clinical apparatus, were found improperly dumped along a roadside in Barangay Cogon, Bogo City in northern Cebu.
Cogon Barangay Captain Allain Ree Florita Torion said in a message to SunStar Cebu on Sunday, April 12, 2026, that the discovery was reported during a road-clearing activity conducted by barangay personnel on Saturday, April 11. The waste was found scattered in an interior area of the barangay.
Initial observations showed that the trash included white plastic apparatus believed to be linked to contraceptive implants or similar medical procedures. The waste may have originated from maternity clinics or laboratory facilities.
Torion issued a public warning, citing the potential health risks posed by improper disposal of medical waste.
“This [message] is for the clinics using apparatus like this. I am humbly requesting you to dispose of your used syringes, any apparatus, or any means that can cause harm to the people. Our barangay is not a dumping ground for your waste,” he said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
As of Saturday, the waste had been cleared following advice from the City Health Office (CHO), which recommended its immediate removal.
Penalties ranging from P10,000 to P50,000, depending on the severity of the violation, may be imposed for improper disposal of hazardous waste under Republic Act 6969, or the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990, according to Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) 7 Chemical and Hazardous Waste Section Engineer Ken Pajayat in a previous interview with SunStar Cebu.
Pajayat said the law requires hospitals and other medical establishments to ensure that hazardous waste is properly handled and disposed of through treatment, storage and disposal facilities accredited by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
He stressed that strict compliance is necessary to prevent environmental damage and protect public health.
No suspects have been identified, Torion said. He noted that closed-circuit television cameras in the area are not operational after being damaged by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck northern Cebu last year, leaving authorities with no leads as of this writing.
Local offices, including the CHO and City Environmental and Natural Resources Office (Cenro), have been informed of the incident.
SunStar Cebu sought comment from Cenro on Sunday, but the office had not responded as of press time. / DPC