THE City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) has collected more than P5.2 million in fines from environmental violators in Davao City since 2022.
In a report shared with the media, Cenro said it recorded a total of P5,267,000 in collected penalties from 8,140 violators over three years. The breakdown is as follows: P1,259,000 in 2022, P1,573,500 in 2023, and P2,434,500 in 2024.
The most common violation under the Davao City Ecological Solid Waste Management Ordinance (City Ordinance 036-10) was littering, scattering, throwing, or dumping waste materials in public areas, with 3,784 recorded violators.
This was followed by the improper disposal of animal excreta or carcasses in garbage bins or collection points, which accounted for 807 cases.
Other infractions included 112 cases of open burning of solid waste, 18 cases of failure to segregate waste, 16 cases of dumping waste in unauthorized locations, and eight cases involving non-implementation of waste management plans.
In addition to the fines, Cenro has pursued legal action in 2,755 cases, based on data from Branch 7 of the Municipal Trial Court. Among these, 963 individuals pleaded guilty, while three pleaded not guilty. The court also archived 983 cases, dismissed 308, withdrew three, and issued 520 arrest warrants.
Engineer Lakandiwa Orcullo, head of Cenro’s Environmental Waste Management Division, reminded the public to practice proper waste disposal and support the city’s solid waste management programs. He emphasized the importance of the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, in minimizing environmental impact.
“Bago ta mupalit ug usa ka butang huna-hunaon sa nato og kinahanglan ba gyud nato (Before we buy something, we should ask ourselves if we need it), Orcullo said during the ISpeak media forum on Thursday, June 20, 2025, at the City Mayor’s Office. “Ug naa tay mga daot na mga gamit kailangan lang siguro nato i-repair kaysa mupalit ta og bag-o aron dili mu-generate ug more waste (If we have broken items, maybe we just need to repair them instead of buying new ones, so we don’t generate more waste).”
The Davao City Ecological Solid Waste Management Ordinance, aligned with Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, mandates the segregation of household and commercial waste into biodegradable, recyclable, and residual categories. Violations may result in fines ranging from P1,000 to P5,000, and in some cases, community service or imprisonment. RGP