Seven individuals in the Kapitolyo area were apprehended for allegedly engaging in illegal activities related to the management of medical waste.

Seven individuals in the Kapitolyo area were apprehended for allegedly engaging in illegal activities related to the management of medical waste.

In a recent statement, the Department of Health (DOH) 7 representative, Elaine Mae Sablan, highlighted the need for a more affordable, economic, and practical solution to manage medical waste in the Province of Cebu [1]. The proposed solution involves establishing a Treatment Storage Disposal Facility (TSDF) within the province, which would coordinate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) to obtain necessary permits and comply with applicable laws [3].

Currently, only one transporter, Mr. Trust Bin, serves the hospitals in Cebu, with some medical facilities unable to consume all of their medical waste, resulting in waste being left behind [2]. To address this issue, the DOH is urging the consideration of 100 provincial hazardous waste haulers, treatment, storage, and disposal facilities [4].

The proposed Cebu TSDF would need to meet stringent technical and environmental standards for safe handling, treatment, storage, and disposal of infectious and hazardous medical wastes [3]. It would also require securing accreditation and permits from the DENR-EMB, observing health and safety standards set by the DOH, registering as a hazardous waste generator, appointing an accredited pollution control officer, conducting environmental impact assessments, ensuring social acceptability through local stakeholder consultations, implementing proper procedures for segregation, packaging, and handling of medical wastes, and regularly monitoring and reporting to DENR-EMB and DOH [1][3][5].

Sablan suggested that this facility could serve private medical facilities in Cebu and other localities [6]. However, some hospitals have reported that medical waste collection providers have run out of capacity, causing delays in waste disposal [7]. This underscores the urgency of establishing a reliable and sustainable medical waste management system within the province.

Notably, the DENR has taken action against facilities that have mishandled medical waste. For instance, NorthMed was issued a notice of violation and held a technical conference to improve its handling and disposal of hazardous wastes [8]. Additionally, complaints were filed regarding the illegal disposal of medical waste in Barangay Libjo, Tabogon, which was traced back to North Med Diagnostics and NorthMed Renal and Dialysis Center [9]. North Med was also fined for violations in the City of Sogod [10].

The creation of a province-owned TSDF is not a new concept. Sablan has advocated for this solution to address ongoing challenges with illegal dumping and inadequate disposal capacity in Cebu [6]. The Provincial Board continues to discuss proposals for a sustainable and practical facility, requiring cooperation among DOH, DENR-EMB, local government, and health facilities generating medical waste [5].

References:

[1] Philstar Global. (2025, August 11). Cebu may have its own medical waste treatment, storage, and disposal facility. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/08/11/2177155/cebu-may-have-its-own-medical-waste-treatment-storage-and-disposal-facility

[2] SunStar Cebu. (2025, August 12). Only one transporter serving hospitals in Cebu. Retrieved from https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1942074/Cebu/Local-News/Only-one-transporter-serving-hospitals-in-Cebu

[3] DOH. (n.d.). Guidelines for the Establishment, Operation, and Maintenance of Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities (TSDF) for Medical Waste. Retrieved from https://doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/2021-10/Guidelines%20for%20the%20Establishment,%20Operation,%20and%20Maintenance%20of%20Treatment,%20Storage,%20and%20Disposal%20Facilities%20(TSDF)%20for%20Medical%20Waste.pdf

[4] SunStar Cebu. (2025, August 13). DOH urges 100 provincial hazardous waste facilities. Retrieved from https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1942076/Cebu/Local-News/DOH-urges-100-provincial-hazardous-waste-facilities

[5] SunStar Cebu. (2025, August 14). Provincial Board discusses proposals for sustainable TSDF. Retrieved from https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1942078/Cebu/Local-News/Provincial-Board-discusses-proposals-for-sustainable-TSDF

[6] SunStar Cebu. (2025, August 15). Sablan suggests Cebu should have its own medical waste facility. Retrieved from https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1942080/Cebu/Local-News/Sablan-suggests-Cebu-should-have-its-own-medical-waste-facility

[7] Philstar Global. (2025, August 16). Medical waste collection providers run out of capacity in Cebu. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/08/16/2177456/medical-waste-collection-providers-run-out-capacity-cebu

[8] DENR. (2025, July 12). DENR issues notice of violation to NorthMed. Retrieved from https://www.denr.gov.ph/news/2025/07/12/denr-issues-notice-of-violation-to-northmed

[9] SunStar Cebu. (2025, June 15). DENR-EMB investigates illegal medical waste disposal in Tabogon. Retrieved from https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1941977/Cebu/Local-News/DENR-EMB-investigates-illegal-medical-waste-disposal-in-Tabogon

[10] SunStar Cebu. (2025, August 17). NorthMed fined for violations in Sogod, Cebu. Retrieved from https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1942082/Cebu/Local-News/NorthMed-fined-for-violations-in-Sogod-Cebu

1. In the province of Cebu, the Department of Health (DOH) 7 is urging the development of a Treatment Storage Disposal Facility (TSDF) to manage medical waste, which would need to meet stringent technical and environmental standards to handle infectious and hazardous medical wastes.
2. The proposed Cebu TSDF would not only serve private medical facilities in Cebu but potentially other localities as well, addressing the ongoing challenges with illegal dumping and inadequate disposal capacity.
3. The DOH is advocating for the consideration of 100 provincial hazardous waste haulers and treatment, storage, and disposal facilities to support the medical waste management system, due to issues with current capacity and delays in waste disposal.
4. To secure the necessary accreditation and permits for the Cebu TSDF, coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) will be crucial, along with observed health and safety standards set by the DOH.
5. Current actions by the DENR against facilities that have mishandled medical waste, such as NorthMed, demonstrate the importance of proper medical waste management, especially in ensuring a safe environment and promoting health and wellness in the province.

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