Main Development: Barangay Mabolo is strictly enforcing Cebu City Ordinance 2031 and Republic Act 9003's "No Segregation, No Collection" policy, penalizing both residents and garbage collectors to fix weak enforcement.
Accountability/Conflict: Barangay Captain Daniel Francis Arguedo warned of sanctions against collection personnel after a garbage truck driver was issued a citation on June 4, 2026, for picking up unsegregated mixed waste.
Public Impact & Data: The crackdown addresses a severe solid waste crisis following a January 8 Binaliw landfill collapse that killed 37 people, with future violators facing P1,000 to P5,000 fines or six months imprisonment.
BARANGAY Mabolo is tightening its rules on trash collection and will now penalize anyone who violates the law—including the garbage collectors themselves. More than twenty years after Cebu City passed its waste segregation law, local leaders say enforcement has been too weak, and they are stepping up to fix the problem.
The village is taking a much stricter approach to enforcing Cebu City Ordinance 2031 and Republic Act 9003, which are also known as the "No Segregation, No Collection" policy and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
Barangay Captain Daniel Francis Arguedo explained that while the law has existed for a very long time, weak enforcement has caused residents and collection workers to ignore it.
To show they are serious about the crackdown, officials issued a citation ticket to a garbage truck driver on June 4, 2026, for picking up unsegregated waste. Arguedo warned that those who are hired to enforce the law must follow it first, and repeat violations will lead to sanctions against the collection personnel.
"One of the biggest challenges is that residents continue to see mixed waste being collected despite the policy. That sends the wrong message and weakens our enforcement efforts," Arguedo said.
The barangay has asked for closer coordination with the Cebu City Government, the Department of Public Services, and the city’s garbage contractor.
Local officials stated that they have consistently taught people about the rules, but some residents still ignore them because city-contracted collectors continue to accept mixed garbage anyway.
"This practice undermines the barangay’s efforts and weakens the effectiveness of our waste management program," the barangay stated in a letter.
To fix this, the barangay has requested an official garbage collection schedule and better coordination tools so local officials can monitor compliance and stop violations more effectively. Arguedo noted that teamwork between the city and the barangays is the only way to make people follow the law and reduce the amount of trash sent to landfills.
The community cannot afford to ignore the rules any longer. Under existing laws, people who fail to segregate their trash face heavy penalties, including fines ranging from P1,000 to P5,000, or even up to six months in jail.
This strict crackdown comes at a critical time as Cebu City faces a severe solid waste crisis. The urgency peaked following the tragic January 8 collapse of the Binaliw landfill, which claimed the lives of 36 workers and one rescuer. Local leaders hope that by enforcing the rules strictly starting at the household level, they can prevent future tragedies and clean up the city.