Complaints over the persistent foul odor from Cebu City’s temporary garbage stockpile at the South Road Properties (SRP) are intensifying online, with runners and residents saying the stench is disrupting one of the city’s most popular recreational corridors.
The waterfront stretch, long used for jogging, cycling, and leisure walks, has drawn growing frustration in recent weeks as visitors report that sections of the area now carry a strong odor linked to the temporary waste holding site established at SRP.
Among those who raised concerns was Facebook user Christine Silor Hunt, who described the area as no longer suitable for recreation due to the smell.
She said in a post that a location once associated with relaxation and scenic views has become uncomfortable due to the odor coming from accumulated waste.
Hunt added that the air quality no longer reflects the usual seaside atmosphere and appealed to authorities to take immediate action.
“We deserve clean air. We deserve better. Please, concerned authorities… Action na unta,” she said.
Another runner, Fred Aries, also shared his experience online, saying parts of the jogging area had become difficult to use due to the strong odor.
He described the smell as overpowering during runs, especially when breathing heavily, making the experience increasingly unpleasant.
The complaints reflect rising public concern over Cebu City’s garbage management situation, which led authorities to use portions of SRP as a temporary waste holding area while seeking long-term disposal solutions.
Residents, motorists, nearby establishments, and regular visitors have also previously raised concerns about odor, environmental impact, and possible public health risks linked to the stockpiled waste.
The situation comes in the aftermath of the disruption in landfill operations following the Binaliw landfill trash slide earlier this year, which forced the city to shift disposal to alternative sites.
Mayor Nestor Archival earlier said the city government aims to clear the accumulated garbage at SRP within 15 to 30 days as hauling operations to Aloguinsan continue.
He said the arrangement in Aloguinsan will remain in place while the city evaluates whether disposal operations can safely resume at the Binaliw landfill.
“We might probably make it in the next 15 to 30 days,” Archival said, referring to the target timeline for clearing the stockpile.
He also said hauling operations to Aloguinsan would stop once Binaliw resumes operations.
The SRP site began serving as a temporary holding area after Cebu City exhausted its contracted disposal capacity, leading to the accumulation of waste at Pond A while alternative arrangements were made.
Since mid-May, garbage buildup in the area has continued, drawing repeated concerns from residents and members of the City Council.
The Cebu City Council has directed the mayor to submit a transition plan within 30 days detailing how the city intends to end the use of SRP as a temporary waste holding area.
Councilors have warned that prolonged stockpiling could pose environmental risks, including potential impacts on nearby mangrove areas.
Environmental advocates and city officials have also emphasized that current hauling arrangements remain a short-term measure and do not address the city’s long-term waste management challenges.
Photo courtesy of Juan Carlo de Vela, Sunstar
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