4 weeks ago
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CEBU CITY — The city government has started building a P42.3-million wastewater treatment facility to address the long-standing stench of untreated human waste near the Cebu City Jail in Barangay Kalunasan.
For years, residents endured the foul odor that seeped into their homes, clung to their clothes, and disrupted the daily lives of residents. Even churchgoers in nearby areas complained about the smell reaching their place of worship.
Despite repeated appeals to the city government, officials took no concrete action to address the problem.
GROUNDBREAKING Cebu City Mayor Raymond Garcia (fourth from right) leads the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a wastewater treatment facility in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City, on Feb. 13, 2025. PHOTO BY KAISER JAN FUENTES
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On Thursday, Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia led the project's groundbreaking ceremony.
The facility, set to be completed in 510 calendar days, aims to put an end to years of neglect that allowed raw sewage from the jail to flow untreated into surrounding areas that affected thousands of households.
The facility, once operational, will process human waste from the jail's dormitories, home to around 5,000 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), before releasing treated water into rivers and canals.
Garcia said he believes the project will significantly improve sanitation in Kalunasan and neighboring Barangay Guadalupe, both of which have suffered from the environmental impact of the jail's lack of a wastewater system.
Garcia said the issue had been a long-standing problem that previous administrations failed to address despite repeated complaints from residents.
He recalled that when he was still a city councilor, the matter was brought up in multiple committees but no real action was taken.
Now that he is mayor, he said he made sure the project would finally push through.
Residents of Kalunasan have long voiced their frustration over the unsanitary conditions. Some said the smell was strongest in the early morning and late at night, making it difficult to sleep.
Others reported that during heavy rains, wastewater overflowed from the jail's drainage, raising fears of contamination.
Churchgoers from Langub Shrine also complained that the stench often reached their gatherings, making worship services uncomfortable.
He said even local officials, including former city legal officer Eugene Orbita, had raised the issue in past administrations, but no concrete action was taken.
Garcia declined to comment on why the project had been delayed for so long under previous leadership, stating that his focus was on finally resolving the issue rather than looking back.
However, he acknowledged the frustration of residents who had been waiting years for the city to act.
To ensure the timely completion of the wastewater project, Garcia said that the contractor will face strict penalties for delays.
The city can impose financial deductions or even terminate the contract if the project fails to meet its deadline, he said.
The mayor remains optimistic that construction will be completed in less than the allotted 510 days.
Ronalyn, 40, who declined to give her full name, said residents in Barangay Kalunasan had endured the foul odor for years. She expressed relief that the issue is finally being addressed, allowing them to live without the constant stench.
Beyond the wastewater treatment facility, city officials are also working on improving conditions inside the jail.
Garcia noted that the facility lacked a dedicated ambulance for emergencies, forcing persons deprived of liberty in need of urgent medical care to wait for an ambulance from the city.
He said the city government had now provided an exclusive ambulance for the jail, ensuring quicker response times for medical emergencies.
He also highlighted the importance of rehabilitation efforts for inmates, saying that keeping them confined in their cells without productive activities was not ideal.
The city government has started distributing sports equipment to promote recreational activities.
