CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — The Senate is set to investigate the compliance of the Binaliw landfill, including others nationwide, with Republic Act No. 9003 (the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000), following the filing of Senate Resolution No. 244 by Senator Imee R. Marcos.
The resolution seeks a Senate inquiry, in aid of legislation, in the wake of the deadly garbage collapse at the Binaliw Sanitary Landfill in Cebu City, which left at least six people dead and dozens more missing.
Operations at the facility were immediately suspended after the incident. Reports said around 50 sanitation workers were buried when a massive mound of waste gave way at the landfill, which Prime Waste Solutions Cebu operates.
Subsequent reports released by the Management of the Dead and Missing (MDM) yesterday (January 12) stated that eight individuals died, 18 were rescued and brought to North General Hospital and Visayas Community Medical Center, while 28 people remained missing.
Rescue and retrieval operations continue, as the Cebu City Government deployed about 300 personnel to assist in search, rescue, and recovery efforts and designated waiting areas for families of the victims.
Local authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the collapse, with initial findings pointing to a possible connection to the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Cebu province in September 2025.
MGB-7 cites possible causes
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Region VII released a situational report on the Binaliw landfill collapse, citing possible causes.
The MGB-7’s investigation, in coordination with DENR-7, EMB-7, and Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO), on January 9, showed that the possible primary cause of the collapse was due to oversaturation of landfill waste due to continuous rainfall over the past weeks.
The report also noted potential lapses in geotechnical and engineering considerations, particularly in the stability of waste stockpiles, slope conditions, and landfill benching.
Investigators observed that the landfill cells were located along a steep slope, with the MRF situated at the northern boundary of the facility. Estimates placed the landfill waste height at approximately 35 meters from ground level, with benching at roughly six-meter intervals.
In an exclusive interview with Councilor David “Dave” Tumulak, who is chairman of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, compared the height of trash in Binaliw is as tall as Club Ultima on Osmeña Boulevard.
With the weight of trash that collapse, it heavily damaged the MRF building, which measures approximately 12.95 meters by 21.6 meters. Some leachate pipes were also damaged, raising concerns about environmental contamination. Authorities noted that leachate drainage systems may have contributed to landfill oversaturation during prolonged rainfall.
The area has since been classified as a danger zone, and residents living near the site were advised to evacuate to safer locations.
Authorities continue to monitor the search and rescue operations and a comprehensive assessment is ongoing to determine accountability, safety compliance, and long-term mitigation measures.
Dangers of mismanaged landfills
In her resolution, Marcos cited the tragedy as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by overfilled, poorly managed, or inadequately regulated landfill facilities.
She also recalled similar incidents in the past, including the 2000 Payatas dumpsite collapse in Quezon City that killed more than 200 people, and the 2011 dumpsite collapse in Barangay Irisan, Baguio City, which claimed five lives and buried several homes.
The resolution emphasized the State’s constitutional duty to protect the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology, as well as existing environmental laws such as RA 9003 and RA 8749, or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, which bans incineration due to the release of toxic fumes.
Despite these laws, Marcos noted that solid waste management in the country continues to face serious challenges. As of 2025, there are about 12,864 Materials Recovery Facilities nationwide, serving nearly half of all barangays, and 343 sanitary landfills catering to 748 local government units. However, increasing waste generation, limited landfill capacity, and gaps in enforcement and oversight persist.
The resolution also pointed out that several countries, including Singapore, Japan, and Germany, have adopted waste-to-energy technologies that significantly reduce waste volume and generate electricity. In the Philippines, proposals have been filed to revisit the ban on incineration as part of broader efforts to modernize solid waste management and address the growing waste problem.
Marcos stressed that rapid economic growth, industrialization, and population increase have intensified waste generation and environmental risks, underscoring the need to reassess existing policies and institutional mechanisms.
The Senate aims to determine whether current laws are adequate in addressing the country’s mounting waste crisis and to craft legislative measures that will prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Archival welcomes senate probe
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has welcomed a Senate investigation into the Prime Waste landfill in Binaliw, following the recent garbage slide that resulted in multiple casualties, and raised questions about landfill safety.
“Nalipay ko niana actually,” Archival said, stressing that the inquiry will help ensure Cebu’s landfill is maintained according to DENR standards.
During her visit to Cebu, Marcos offered prayers for the victims at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño, signaling her solidarity with affected families. She emphasized that the inquiry should determine whether existing laws are sufficient to address the country’s mounting garbage problem.
For Cebu City, Archival sees the Senate probe also as an opportunity to strengthen accountability, clarify the future of waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies, and reinforce community participation in segregation.
He noted that WTE technology is not yet accepted in the Philippines, and the inquiry should specify which systems may be accredited for use.
Archival warned that despite ongoing efforts, garbage volume continues to rise. Composting technologies, he said, remain limited, and he appealed to companies engaged in composting to collaborate with the city.
He also reminded the public of the “No Segregation, No Collection” ordinance, adopted by the Solid Waste Management Board in November 2025, and urged big establishments to take responsibility for their own garbage management instead of relying solely on the city.
While initially describing the situation as a “crisis,” Archival later clarified that it is a concern that must be addressed before reaching crisis levels, citing the need to properly manage 500 tons of garbage daily.
Archival appealed to Cebu City residents to unite. “This is the time for us to come together, magtinabangay ta all over the city,” he said, urging collective discipline to prevent another tragedy.
DENR-7 closes Binaliw landfill
Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has ordered the immediate closure of the Binaliw Sanitary Landfill following the tragic January 8 incident, expressing sympathy to the families affected and vowing a thorough investigation into the incident.
In an official statement, the DENR-7, through OIC regional executive director Laudemir S. Salac, said it is conducting a comprehensive, impartial, and evidence-based probe to determine the cause of the trash slide, identify those responsible, and recommend necessary corrective measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Based on the findings of the DENR–Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region VII technical team during a site inspection conducted on January 9, the Regional Office issued an immediate Cease-and-Desist Order (CDO) against Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, Inc. (PIWSI), formerly known as ARN Central Waste Management, Inc.
The CDO was issued pursuant to EMB Memorandum Circular 2007-002, which grants the EMB Regional Director the authority to suspend operations when there is an imminent threat of grave or irreparable environmental damage.
Under the order, PIWSI is directed to halt all sanitary landfill operations, including the acceptance of waste, with the exception of activities related to rescue, retrieval, and cleanup, which must be carried out in coordination with concerned government agencies.
The landfill operator has also been summoned to a Technical Conference, during which facts surrounding the incident will be established and a compliance commitment will be executed within a period not exceeding 90 days, the DENR said.
The agency emphasized that it is closely coordinating with local government units (LGUs) in line with R.A. 9003, and the Local Government Code of 1991, which vests LGUs the primary responsibility for solid waste management.
LGUs are likewise required to prepare and submit a 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan to the National Solid Waste Management Commission. The DENR said it will work with LGUs to determine the status of their compliance, and assess existing oversight measures.
“The DENR remains committed to transparency, due process, and collaboration with LGUs, communities, and stakeholders,” it said, adding: “Our priority is to ensure environmental safety, prevent further risks to life and property, and strengthen long-term compliance with environmental laws.”
Ecowaste coalition
Also, the EcoWaste Coalition has extended its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of workers killed in the tragic garbage slide.
The environmental group said the collapse of massive piles of garbage highlights the deadly consequences of unsafe waste disposal practices and the long-standing neglect of communities and workers who live and labor near dumpsites.
The garbage slide reportedly struck areas where workers were stationed, exposing landfill personnel, many of whom are from the informal waste sector, to extreme danger. “These workers play an indispensable role in recovering recyclable materials, yet their labor remains largely…unprotected,” the Coalition stated.
Anecita “Aning” Abadijas, president of the Cebu Inayawan Resource Collectors Association (CiRCA), said warnings about the unstable buildup of waste at the landfill had long been raised but were allegedly ignored.
“This tragedy did not happen overnight. Workers had been reporting the dangerous conditions for a long time, but these warnings were not acted upon,” Abadijas said in a statement released by the coalition adding, “it is deeply painful to see fellow workers lose their lives because known safety risks were left unaddressed.”
She called on the landfill operator to prioritize the welfare of workers, nearby communities, and the environment over profit, while urging government agencies to enforce stricter and more consistent monitoring to ensure accountability and prevent similar incidents.
The Philippine Earth Justice Center (PEJC), which has been assisting affected communities and waste workers in Cebu, also joined calls for a thorough independent investigation and immediate assistance for affected families.
PEJC managing trustee, lawyer John Menguito, said, “What happened in Binaliw is a painful reminder that when environmental laws are ignored or weakly enforced, it is the poor and marginalized who suffer the most.”
EcoWaste Coalition said honoring the victims should go beyond expressions of sympathy, as it called for the prioritization of rescue and retrieval operations, protection of responders, and support for affected families.
The coalition further urged LGUs and national agencies to provide immediate relief, including medical care, compensation, livelihood assistance, and psychosocial support; conduct a transparent and independent probe into the landfill’s operations and safety protocols; shut down unsafe dumpsites; and fully enforce RA 9003 through waste reduction, segregation, recycling, and composting.
The group also stressed the importance of engaging affected communities, particularly informal waste workers, in planning and decision-making processes, including the development of just transition programs toward safe and sustainable livelihoods.
EcoWaste Coalition said the Binaliw tragedy echoes past waste-related disasters in the country. “More than two decades later, we are still seeing the same failures repeated,” said EcoWaste Coalition national coordinator Aileen Lucero.
“As we mourn the lives lost and pray for those still recovering and missing, let this tragedy be a turning point. Justice for the victims means ending deadly dumps, protecting workers and communities, and finally implementing ecological waste management in both letter and spirit,” the Coalition declared.
| Written by Preciosa Bacalso, Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon & Caecent No-ot Magsumbol
