ILOILO City – The discovery of refrigerator casings and possible industrial discards in a tributary of the Jaro River has prompted the city government to investigate junk shops and other waste generators operating near Barangay Cubay, Jaro district, raising concerns that illegal dumping — not just community littering — is driving the worsening pollution in the waterway.
A cleanup was conducted last week.
The city government’s General Services Office (GSO) head Engr. Neil Ravena said what worries them now is not the 2.3 tons of garbage collected on December 3, but the type and source of the waste pulled out of the river.
“We found about four to six refrigerator casings in the area, which indicates that these may have come from nearby junk shops. We are now identifying who is responsible for indiscriminate dumping,” Ravena said.
He stressed that the volume of waste extracted represented “only about half” of what had accumulated, signaling that the river section may have long been a silent dumping ground for bulk materials that cannot be attributed to ordinary household waste.
Environmental officials warn that if the dumping continues unchecked, it will seriously compromise the Barangay Cubay stretch of the river, potentially triggering waterway blockages that could worsen flooding in nearby communities — especially as the rainy season intensifies.
“If these solid wastes remain unchecked, they will block the waterway and worsen flooding in the surrounding communities,” Ravena cautioned.
The city is set to reinstall waste traps in strategic locations while intensifying surveillance on establishments suspected of disposing of industrial debris directly into the waterway. Authorities say this will complement ongoing enforcement efforts to hold violators accountable under environmental laws.
Officials emphasize that cleanups are no longer just a matter of hauling garbage — they are now urgent to stop systematic illegal dumping that threatens both the environment and public safety./PN
