Mayor Abelardo “JunB” Bantug III announced on Wednesday, July 8, that Victorias City is officially withdrawing its request to dispose of its residual waste at the Bacolod sanitary landfill, choosing to prioritize inter-city relations and the concerns of Bacolod residents.
Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya also announced Victorias’ decision to withdraw its requests at the end of his State of the City Address at the Bacolod City Government Center Wednesday afternoon.
The announcements came after widespread opposition from Bacolod residents, netizens and environment groups to the plan to allow Victorias to dump its residual waste at the Bacolod City sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa.
Bantug, in a post on his Facebook page, said he personally informed Gasataya of the decision, which has been formalized through an official letter.
“I was the one who asked for it, and I am also the one withdrawing it,” Bantug said, explaining that the initial request was a temporary measure after a long-standing waste partnership with a neighboring local government unit (LGU) recently ended.
The proposed agreement had drawn public attention, but Bantug clarified that the planned waste volume was minimal. While official documents set a ceiling of 30 cubic meters per month, Victorias City only intended to dump roughly 10 cubic meters monthly—equivalent to a single mid-sized compactor truck, he said.
“Victorias’ entire month of residual waste is less than what the Felisa landfill receives in a single hour of a single day,” Bantug said, adding that the request was legal, transparent, temporary, and fully paid for, aligned with Republic Act 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act) which encourages LGUs to share resources.
However, resistance from Bacolod residents, particularly those living near the landfill site, prompted the Victorias City government to backtrack.
“I heard the voices of the Bacolodnons, especially the residents of Barangay Felisa. It is their area, and they have the right to express their concerns,” Bantug said.
“Our request was legal and small, but I will not allow it to become a source of conflict between two cities that have long been like brothers”, he said.
Moving forward, Bantug assured his constituents that garbage collection in Victorias City will continue without interruption. The city is now fast-tracking the construction of its own sanitary landfill, which is targeted to be fully operational by 2027.
The mayor expressed his gratitude to Gasataya, the Bacolod Solid Waste Management Board, and the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod for their openness to help a fellow LGU.
Bantug also issued a call to action for Victorias residents to strictly practice waste segregation at home to minimize the city’s residual waste output.
Meanwhile, the Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE) said Victorias City’s withdrawal of its request to dispose of residual waste in Bacolod is a testament to what citizens can achieve when they stand together for what is right.
“Our campaign showed that public participation is not merely symbolic—it has the power to influence decisions and protect communities,” the group said.
“We especially recognize the people of Barangay Felisa, whose voices, lived experiences, and unwavering courage brought much-needed attention to the realities surrounding the sanitary landfill. Their persistence in speaking out strengthened this campaign and reminded us that those most affected must be heard and prioritized in public decision-making,” it added.
NICE also commended the move by Victorias City, through Bantug.
“At the same time, we remain vigilant regarding Bacolod City’s management of our waste. The recent events have unearthed longstanding issues with the ‘model’ sanitary landfill, such as the persistent foul odor, clogged waterways, flooding, and health issues that the residents of Brgy. Felisa have been experiencing,” NICE said.*