The tons of toxic medical waste dumped by the hospital chief of Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) became an instant trending in social media websites, triggering a global reaction among Boholanos and Filipinos abroad who expressed condemnation and disgust over the inaction and irresponsibility of the hospital management. The front page image of Sept. 22 Sunday Post edition with the headline banner “Gallares hospital stinks!” was widely circulated in the digital universe but Boholanos who were shamed on the revolting photo of the hospital garbage requested Facebook.com to take the photo down. Following the requests of disappointed Boholanos, Facebook removed the image of Sunday Post’s front page, which has gained hundreds of likes and comments few hours after it was uploaded on Facebook timelines, pages, and groups.

Boholanos who had seen tons of toxic medical waste dumped in front of Gallares Hospital expressed shock that a health institution could allow in putting people’s health at risk. “Imbes nga magpahospital ta aron maayo, mosamot na hinuon ta kasakit diha sa Gallares Hospital,” said one Boholano in the USA who commented on the Facebook photo. Another disappointed Boholano said: “masakit na hinoon ang mga tawo mopa admit diha, then ang walay sakit makakuha na hinoon ug sakit. Naa pay mga students nurses diha na basin mataptan ug mga sakit. risk kaayo jud ni oi? not only sa mga pasyente but even sa mga kasikbit nga mga establishments dihang dapita. Haaahaayyy mao niy pait sa atong gobyerno karon.” "Unsa my gihimo sa mga kadagkuan sa probinsya pulos hisgut ug nindot nga programa pero sa luyong bahin nag antos ang mga pasyenti sa basurahan sa gov.celestino gallares memorial hospital dumpsite. Di ba kini maka uuwaw sa mga opisyal sa Bohol nga gipasagdaan asa man ang upgrade sa tambalan," said another Facebook member.

Gallares Hospital is under the direct supervision of the Department of Health (DOH). The Provincial Government of Bohol and the City Government of Tagbilaran are not part of the management of the hospital. But Gov. Edgar Chatto and City Mayor Baba Yap have called on Dr. Nenita Po, who is also facing corruption charges at the Ombudsman over the overpriced P11.5 million power generator set, to fix the problem and abide with environmental laws. Chatto on Friday said he had instructed the Bohol Environment Management Office (BEMO) to build a case study on the toxic waste of Gallares Hospital which has been left to rot for years. Yap, on the other hand, had sent a letter to DOH Sec. Enrique Ona regarding the problem. The city mayor invited Po in a meeting to explain the garbage scandal, but Yap had found that the City Government cannot allow GCGMH to dump its toxic waste at Dampas Open Dumpsite due to provisions of Republic Act No. 9003 which bans the dumping of toxic wastes on open dump sites. Po, for her part, admitted over DYRD’s Inyong Alagad program that she started dumping the Gallares Hospital’s toxic waste in September 2011 after the City Government stopped GCGMH from throwing its hazardous medical waste in Dampas.

The hospital chief said that those who are offended about the toxic medical waste dumped in front of the hospital ground are free not to seek hospital treatment if they find the garbage repulsive. “Mas maayo hinuon ug dili na sila manganha sa hospital aron dili na madaghan ang mga pasyente kay puno na mi,” Dr. Po said over the radio. Po said she is still looking for solutions to solve the garbage scandal at the only regional hospital in Bohol. But a Facebook member disclosed that there have been solutions offered to Po, but she turned them down. A source said the hospital management wants to make money out of the garbage problem. “Samantalang meron nang mga nag o-offer ng solution dito, using effective microorganisms, just like how they have done in the polluted waters of Tokyo. Also, using the technology already for cleaning hospital hazardouswaste. May alam ako Japanese who owns a resort in Panglao at the same time has a business in Japan and knows solid waste management and can offer a solution. Hindi nila pinapansin. Something is very wrong. What's the matter with these people? They want to wallow in their own mess?,” one Facebook member disclosed.