CHD finds ‘no evidence’ linking Colon-Carbon business to urine dumping

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Establishments around Colon Street and Carbon Market have been cleared of allegations that workers dumped human urine into public drainage systems after a Cebu City Health Department (CHD) investigation found “no evidence” linking any business to the reported practice.

The findings came after social media posts and public complaints alleged that some workers in downtown Cebu were forced to urinate in containers and dispose of the waste in roadside drains because they lacked access to proper comfort rooms.

The allegations aroused widespread public concern and prompted the city government to launch an investigation into possible sanitation violations and worker welfare issues in the city’s busiest commercial district.

READ: Human waste dumping: Cebu City probes establishments

READ: ‘Disturbing’: Human waste dumping in Colon, Carbon sparks outcry

A report submitted by the CHD stated that inspectors found no direct evidence connecting any establishment to the alleged disposal of human waste during a series of inspections conducted in late April.

The report, dated April 28, noted that authorities inspected dozens of establishments along Colon Street and conducted follow-up assessments in the Carbon Market area after receiving a memorandum from the Office of the City Administrator directing an investigation into the complaints.

No significant findings

According to the CHD, inspectors initially conducted an ocular inspection and interviews on April 27 to identify the establishment allegedly involved in the incident.

“Based on the assessment conducted, all establishments inspected showed no significant findings related to the disposal incident,” the report stated.

Inspectors found toilet facilities operational and drainage systems functioning properly in the establishments they visited.

The report also noted that flooding remains a recurring problem in the area during heavy rains, but investigators found no indication that establishments were disposing of human waste into public drainage systems.

During one inspection, the team observed an individual urinating beside Colon Street near a drainage area. Investigators suspected the person suffered from a mental disability.

Establishment denies allegations

Health inspectors later identified the location where the alleged dumping incident supposedly occurred and attempted to enter the establishment.

However, the owner initially denied entry because the mission order presented by the inspectors failed to specify the exact street where the investigation would take place.

Despite refusing entry at the time, the owner acknowledged that liquid was being discharged from the establishment but insisted it came from air-conditioning runoff and wastewater generated from floor cleaning.

The owner denied that the liquid consisted of human waste.

A third inspection followed after authorities corrected the mission order.

The report stated that the owner then allowed inspectors to enter the premises and examine the establishment’s facilities.

Inspectors found the drainage system and comfort rooms in good condition and reported no significant findings that could support the allegations.

The report added that investigators could not completely rule out the possibility that any violation, if one existed, had already been corrected before the inspections took place.

“It could also be possible that the establishment has corrected the violation, if any, prior to the conduct of investigation,” the report said.

Wider sanitation inspection

Beyond investigating the specific complaint, city health personnel carried out a sanitation assessment across Colon Street and Carbon Market.

The CHD reported inspecting 66 establishments along Colon Street, including food and non-food businesses.

Inspectors documented 60 functional comfort rooms and five shared but operational comfort rooms. They also found four clogged comfort rooms that required attention.

In Carbon Market, inspectors assessed sanitary facilities in the Interim Building and several market units.

READ: Davao City garbage woes worsen amid landfill closure

Most comfort rooms remained operational, although some cubicles were undergoing maintenance.

The inspection also uncovered several concerns unrelated to the urine-dumping allegations.

Among these were reports that some stalls had been converted into sleeping quarters, incidents of open defecation by nearby residents, the presence of rats, and persistent flooding during the rainy season.

Complaint sparked public concern

The investigation stemmed from complaints posted online by Cebu resident Arra Shaine Estrera, who claimed she witnessed a worker dump what appeared to be human urine along Magallanes Street on April 25.

READ: Pasil waste dumping video prompts Cebu City enforcement, cleanup push

Estrera later told CDN Digital that she had encountered similar incidents in downtown Cebu over the years and alleged that some workers in nearby establishments were prohibited from using proper comfort rooms.

The claims prompted widespread concern among netizens and led Mayor Nestor Archival to order an investigation involving the CHD, the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, and the Business Permit and Licensing Office.

At the time, Archival stressed that employers must provide workers access to sanitary facilities, citing workplace welfare requirements under Republic Act 11058 or the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Act.

The mayor also warned that improper disposal of human waste could aggravate sanitation problems and pose public health risks, particularly in flood-prone areas./ With reports from Airam Limatog, Chinky Rondina

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