The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has ordered immediate and long-term actions to address Cebu’s solid waste management challenges following the collapse of a sanitary landfill in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City.
In a released statement on January 13, Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla has directed the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and DENR Region VII to take urgent steps to ensure safety and proper containment at the Binaliw sanitary landfill, according to a report by RH Val Gonzales.
The directive comes as the agency works on developing sustainable, long-term solutions for the province’s solid waste management system.
As part of the immediate response, DENR Region VII, through EMB-7 and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region VII (MGB-7), has begun conducting a rapid appraisal to identify the necessary engineering measures and to formulate a rehabilitation plan for the landfill facility.
The assessment aims to determine necessary engineering interventions and to formulate a rehabilitation plan that will "assess waste pile stability, drainage conditions, and site-specific geotechnical risks."
Lotilla has also instructed officials to identify alternative waste disposal sites for Cebu City through coordination with other local government units (LGUs). This move is intended to ensure uninterrupted waste collection services while safeguarding public health.
“DENR will monitor and facilitate the identification and operation of alternative disposal sites for Cebu City and neighboring LGUs to ensure uninterrupted waste collection and public health protection,” the department stated.
According to the DENR, a comprehensive assessment of the sanitary landfill facility is required to pinpoint structural and operational deficiencies. The findings will serve as the basis for recommendations on reconstruction and the implementation of safer operational practices.
To support these efforts, DENR is coordinating with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), provincial and city officials, and other national partners to remove administrative and operational barriers to alternative waste disposal arrangements. The agency is also facilitating the possible "use of transfer stations and interim waste handling measures where appropriate."
Technical teams from EMB-7 and MGB-7 have been deployed to conduct site inspections, geotechnical reviews, and operational audits. These activities include science-based evaluations of potential secondary risks arising from rainfall and other natural factors.
In response to the incident, the DENR has issued a cease and desist order against the landfill operator involved in the collapse, which resulted in the loss of several lives in Barangay Binaliw.
As part of the next steps, DENR Region VII has been instructed to submit a resource and timeline proposal for the rapid appraisal within 72 hours, covering engineering, environmental, and geotechnical assessments.
As of January 13, the incident has resulted in 13 confirmed fatalities, 12 individuals injured, and 23 others still reported missing.
On Tuesday, the Cebu City Council placed Cebu City under a state of calamity following the deadly landslide at the Binaliw Landfill.
