By CESAR JOLITO III
The expansion of a sanitary landfill in Bacolod City’s Barangay Felisa is moving forward, with the construction of Cell No. 5 now 75 percent complete, signaling efforts by local authorities to address increasing waste volume while maintaining environmental standards.
Mario Sandil, operations manager of International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialists Inc. (ISWIMS), said the new landfill cell — adjacent to the currently active Cell No. 4 — is targeted for completion by the second week of June 2026.
The project, funded by the city government with a budget of P66 million, covers a two-hectare area.
Sandil emphasized that the facility is being developed using proper engineering systems, including benching, slope protection and soil covering, to ensure structural integrity and environmental safety.
The landfill facility has earlier been recognized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Environmental Management Bureau as a model not only in the Negros Island Region but also nationwide.
It remains the only landfill in the region operating under a public-private partnership scheme.
With a daily capacity of 900 metric tons, the existing Cell No. 4 has reached its operational peak, prompting the accelerated development of Cell No. 5.
Once the new cell becomes operational, authorities plan to formally close Cell No. 4.
Sandil also assured that precautionary measures are in place to prevent incidents such as landfill collapses reported in other parts of the country, citing ongoing improvements and corrections implemented since ISWIMS assumed operations.
The upcoming Cell No. 5 is expected to accommodate Bacolod’s waste for the next two to three years, with an estimated handling capacity of up to 5,000 tons per day at peak.
Meanwhile, lawyer Allyn Luv Dignadice, head of the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office, said the city government continues to pursue strategies to reduce residual waste alongside expanding landfill capacity.
Dignadice underscored that waste management remains a shared responsibility among government offices and the public, urging residents to strictly observe waste segregation at source to help prolong the landfill’s lifespan./CJ, WDJ