Infectious waste in Metro Cebu hospitals, clinics remains uncollected

Residents in Metro Cebu could be at risk from potentially infectious waste from hospitals, birthing homes and lying-in clinics that have not been collected for a month.

The management of some such hospitals and clinics aired the warning Monday as they called on the city government to act on this concern, GMA Cebu's Mark Anthony Bautista reported Tuesday.



While the establishments have septic vaults to store such waste, these get full easily after a few days.

In the meantime, the management of the affected establishments continue to disinfect and segregate the waste while waiting for it to be collected – and petitioned the city government to address the issue.

"We place it inside a pot, color-code (it), then with label, we restore it now in our septic vault. The problem is (the vault will get full)," said Engineer Rolito Magdadaro of the Saint Vincent Hospital.

Engineer Jocelyn Gonzales of the Cebu Velez General Hospital said they disinfect their waste and place it in a vault as well.

But Gonzales said they cannot just expand the septic vault quickly. "Our neighboring area is a restaurant," she added.

Unable to collect

For its part, the Pollution Abatement System Specialist Inc. (PASSI) said it could not collect the waste because the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Central Visayas has not signed its permit renewal.

It said it had complied with the requirements of DENR-7, including de-watering equipment.

Moreover, it sadi that so long as it does not have an approved transport storage and disposal certificate from the DENR, it could not operate.

PASSI collects about 1,000 kilos of infectious wastes from hospitals, birthing homes and lying-in clinics in Metro Cebu in one day.

"We receive calls everyday..., 'why are you not collecting?' So we call them to explain our part na we are doing everything, we fast-track our contractor to finish it on time," said PASSI pollution control officer Engr. Cleofe Cortez.

The company said it hoped the DENR will act on the matter soonest.

Solution next week?

Meanwhile, Environment Department undersecretary Jonas Leones said they had accredited one facility that could start operations as early as next week.



He said the firm is undergoing final check and submission of permits.

But he said it would be hazardous to dump the waste in the open.

He said there will be a meeting among the DENR, hospital owners and local government units to discuss the matter. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News