The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau Region 10 (DENR-EMB 10) has issued a show cause order against the local government unit of Cagayan de Oro City due to several violations found during an inspection of the city’s sanitary landfill.

In a letter dated September 18, 2025, the DENR-EMB reported that garbage continues to be dumped in Cell No. 3 despite the absence of a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liner, which is essential to prevent leachate or liquid waste from seeping into nearby waterways.

The bureau also noted that the wastewater pond collecting leachate from Cells No. 2 and 3 is nearing overflow, which poses risks of contamination if it spills into nearby creeks.

There were also indications that leachate from Cell No. 1 had already overflowed into the Buracan Creek.

These were among the observations cited by DENR-EMB 10 during its inspection.

The City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO) earlier said that the private company managing the landfill has failed to maintain the facility.

According to the spokesperson of Mayor Rolando Uy, the mayor has already convened the departments concerned and directed them to resolve the issue within one week.