Unsanitary Landfills Fuel Climate Injustice and a Health Crisis

By Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David Let’s call a spade a spade. Most so-called “sanitary landfills” in the Philippines are dumpsites in disguise. Under RA 9003, only residual waste — after segregation, composting, and recycling — should go to landfills. In reality, everything is mixed together: biodegradable, recyclable, toxic, industrial, even medical waste. The result: Methane emissions that worsen climate change Leachate that poisons soil, rivers, and coastal waters Public health risks, especially for poor communities Food insecurity, as seen around Manila Bay This is climate injustice. This is a public health crisis. But here is the biggest missing link in the implementation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act: Education, formation, and consciousness-raising. Local government units (LGUs) spend billions hauling and dumping garbage but invest almost nothing in teaching people how not to produce it. If the largest portion of solid waste budgets were spent on: sustained public education, household-level waste segregation, composting and recycling training, solid waste would be reduced to a bare minimum. The tragedy in Cebu is not an accident. It is a warning of what happens when laws exist — but minds and habits remain unchanged. Call to action Citizens: Practice waste segregation at home. Demand separate collection. Hold LGUs accountable. LGUs: Shift budgets from dumping to education. Enforce RA 9003 fully. Close unsanitary landfills. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and regulators: Stop approving projects that violate environmental laws. This is not just about garbage. It is about health, climate justice, and the future of our children.