ENVIRONMENTAL groups, led by the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), demand that Toledo City Mayor Marjorie Perales halt the illegal dumping and reclamation in the Hinulawan River.
In a letter sent to SunStar Cebu on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, the groups cited fly ash dumping, unauthorized construction, and mangrove cutting as among the violations. The letter, dated July 9, 2025, stated that the violations occurred in Barangays Dumlog and Daanglungsod, both in Toledo City.
The groups alleged that the city has not acted on the findings of the November 2024 inspection that confirmed the violations.
The PMCJ, along with allied local organizations, sent a formal letter to Mayor Perales on July 9, 2025, calling for decisive action.
SunStar Cebu sent a message to the Toledo City Public Information Office on Tuesday, July 22, to get the local government’s side on the issue. As of press time, the office has yet to respond.
The groups reported widespread dumping of fly ash, waste from coal-burning power plants, and other solid materials.
They also cited the construction of riprap and unauthorized land reclamation without proper permits in Barangays Dumlog and Daanglungsod, which sit within or are adjacent to the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS).
PMCJ also reported unauthorized cutting of mangrove trees.
“During the inspection on Nov. 11, 2024, the team observed that the mangrove trees located on the riverside of the reclaimed area, visible from the Dumlog side, were no longer visible. This raised additional concerns about any illegal cutting of mangrove trees,” reads a portion of the letter.
Joint inspection
The Toledo City Environmental and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) received the complaint on Nov. 8, 2024, prompting a joint inspection three days later, on Nov. 11.
The inspection confirmed extensive dumping and reclamation, covering approximately 1.69 hectares. This altered the river’s natural flow and resulted in the disappearance of the mangroves.
Cenro found these activities lacked legal permits, in violation of Republic Act (RA) 9275 (the Philippine Clean Water Act) and RA 11038 (the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act.
Earlier, a DENR-Cenro inspection in February 2024 flagged fly ash issues. Satellite imagery from Dec. 2022 and Feb. 2024, using Google Earth Pro, showed “reclamation” in the Hinulawan River. The PMCJ claimed that despite Cenro’s recommendations for a formal investigation, community consultations, and mitigation measures, there was a lack of action from the mayor’s office, prompting them to send the July 9 letter to Perales demanding for the immediate cessation of illegal activities. / CDF