Reports of human waste being dumped along a roadside on busy Magallanes Street near Carbon Public Market in Cebu City have raised concerns over sanitation and labor conditions, as the Cebu City Council approved amendments to the city’s waste management ordinance.
The issue surfaced after netizen Arra Shaine Mondejar Estrera posted on social media on April 25, 2026, recounting a disturbing incident that drew public attention to worker welfare, public health, and urban cleanliness.
Estrera said she and a companion were waiting for a ride when a male employee of a nearby drugstore politely asked them to move aside because he was about to dispose of something. Assuming it was wastewater, they complied.
Moments later, the employee allegedly poured two large buckets of liquid onto the roadside, which Estrera later identified by its strong odor as urine.
‘Like ihi, super mapanghi. Imagine two buckets-kanang dagkong bucket sa pintal. Almost full ang usa, then ang usa kay half-full,’ she said.
Estrera said the incident disturbed her not only because of the unsanitary act, but also because of what she claimed were abusive workplace practices in some establishments in the area. She alleged that some workers are prohibited from using available restroom facilities.
‘Take note, naay CR sa sulod pero ang owner ra ang pwede mogamit. Ang staff kay mangihi sa balde sa pintal, iyabo inig afternoon, then the next day, repeat,’ she added.
She claimed workers are instead forced to relieve themselves in containers, which are later emptied in public areas.
Estrera also said the practice may have persisted for years, recalling similar observations during her college days and visits to the area from 2013 to 2019.
The incident has raised concerns over sanitation risks to commuters and pedestrians, the dignity and humane treatment of workers, and the cleanliness of public spaces in Cebu City’s downtown district.
Estrera said she has started filing complaints before the Department of Labor and Employment, the City Health Office, and the National Wages and Productivity Commission, hoping authorities would conduct an investigation and impose sanctions if warranted.
While the establishment involved has not been publicly identified, Estrera stressed that the issue extends beyond a single business.
‘This is not just about sanitation-it’s about basic human decency,’ she said.
The Office of the Mayor has directed the City Health Department to conduct an investigation, sanitary survey, and submit recommendations on the reported improper human waste dumping.
The mayor also ordered a complete inventory of all public and private comfort rooms within the area, including public toilets under City Government management, comfort rooms located in business establishments, and facilities in commercial buildings and markets.
Meanwhile, the Cebu City Council has approved amendments to Ordinance No. 2031, strengthening the city’s waste management law first enacted in 2004.
The original measure introduced the ‘No Segregation, No Collection’ policy, requiring households to separate biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste before collection. However, enforcement had been weak and compliance uneven.
Under the amended ordinance, violators who fail to segregate garbage face a fine of P1,000 or one month imprisonment for a first offense, P2,000 or two months imprisonment for a second offense, and P5,000 or six months imprisonment for succeeding violations.
First-time offenders may settle through a P500 compromise fee, but repeat violators will no longer be given that option. Those unable to pay may be required to render one to 15 days of community service.
The revised law also introduces a reward system, with compromise fees to be placed in a special city fund for barangays and deputized enforcers who apprehend violators.
Waste segregation has also been expanded into five categories: biodegradable, non-biodegradable, recyclable, hazardous or special waste, and bulky or white goods. Barangays are required to establish Material Recovery Facilities.
The ordinance likewise incorporates the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022, requiring enterprises to adopt waste recovery measures such as reusable packaging, refill systems, buyback schemes, and partnerships with waste pickers.
The amendments come in the wake of Cebu City’s garbage crisis, highlighted earlier this year by the collapse of the Binaliw landfill that claimed lives and forced the city to spend millions transporting waste to Aloguinsan.
City officials said the overhaul underscores that waste management is no longer merely about collection, but about accountability shared by households, barangays, and businesses alike.