MisOr town eyes biomedical waste facility

MISAMIS ORIENTAL — The municipal government of Villanueva is moving to establish a dedicated biomedical waste treatment facility within its eight-hectare sanitary landfill in Barangay San Martin to improve hazardous medical waste management across Misamis Oriental.

The project, approved by the Sangguniang Bayan, will feature specialized treatment equipment — including an incinerator — to safely treat infectious materials, neutralize pathogens, and reduce contamination risks linked to improper disposal.

Roy Permi, executive assistant to Mayor Julio T. Uy, said local authorities are identifying a construction partner to build the plant. Final project costs, facility design, and implementation schedules remain under evaluation.

Uy said the facility is intended to serve all 23 municipalities in Misamis Oriental. Given its broad operational scope, the municipal government plans to request financial assistance from the provincial government to help cover development costs.

The initiative addresses growing regional concerns over medical waste generated by healthcare centers and regional hospitals.

Cagayan de Oro City Councilor Roger Abaday recently raised the issue during a city council session, warning of potential environmental and public health hazards if healthcare waste remains untreated.

Once operational, the Villanueva facility will expand Northern Mindanao’s specialized waste infrastructure, providing local healthcare providers with a centralized treatment site to process medical waste safely.