An official in Cagayan de Oro City has expressed concern over reports that medical wastes generated in the city has reached up to 14 tons daily.

City Councilor Roger Abaday raised the issue before the City Council, saying hospitals and medical clinics in the city are facing challenges in waste disposal.

“Adunay kalisod sa ilang paglabay kay didto ra man na nila i-transport sa Davao, Tacurong ug Gensan diri sa Mindanao ug usahay didto sa Cebu pero gi-close naman,” Abaday said.

Abaday also expressed worry over reports that some health centers and medical establishments are resorting to burying their hazardous waste because of the high cost of disposal in other areas.

Because of this, the local lawmaker is pushing for the immediate operation of the hazardous waste treatment facility in the city to help process and collect hospital waste.

“Instead of mobayad sila didto gawas sa Cagayan de Oro, paglabay kay akong nahibal-an per kilo man ang bayad dinhi nana mabayad sa siyudad,” Abaday said.

According to the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO), the facility is already in place, but they are still waiting for the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) before it can start operating.

“We need to apply for accreditation because we cannot use the facility without accreditation TSD accreditation that is treatment, storage and disposal accreditation sa facility nga kuhaon sa EMB kana ang pending karon sa city,” CLENRO Head, Elvisa Mabelin, said.

Currently, hospital rely on private collectors for medical waste, but collection remains inconsistent due to disposal difficulties.