Cebu City suspends garbage collection due to Binaliw landslide

Local

CEBU City has temporarily stopped collecting garbage as authorities prioritize search and rescue operations and assess the stability of the Binaliw landfill following its collapse that left dozens of workers missing.

Councilor Joel Garganera, chair of the City Council’s Committee on Environment and vice chair of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC), said Friday, Jan. 9, that waste disposal has been put on hold amid serious safety concerns at the landfill site.

“Right now, our priority is search and rescue,” Garganera told reporters. “At the same time, we have to acknowledge the assessment of the landfill. It already gave way, it slid, and it’s common sense that we cannot add more waste on top of that.”

Garganera said he had been in constant coordination with the Department of General Services (DGS), which oversees landfill operations, and was advised that allowing additional dumping, even in the near future, would pose further risks.

“For me, for the longest time, we should hold the dumping of garbage until a full investigation is conducted on what really transpired,” he said.

The suspension covers not only Cebu City but also neighboring local government units that use the Binaliw landfill, Garganera said, noting that several municipalities have already been advised not to dispose of waste at the site.

To address the mounting garbage problem, city officials are now looking at alternative solutions.

Garganera said two possible landfill sites in southern Cebu and one in the north have been identified, while a temporary transfer station is being considered within the Department of Public Services (DPS) compound at the South Road Properties (SRP).

In the meantime, he appealed to residents to avoid disposing of garbage unless absolutely necessary, as collection trucks are already filled and have nowhere to unload.

“We are calling on the public, not just in Cebu City but also in neighboring cities, to refrain from disposing of garbage for now,” Garganera said.

He also urged households to strictly practice waste segregation, describing the crisis as an opportunity to enforce long-delayed policies.

“Every tragedy is an opportunity. Segregation is the key,” he said. “People may think it’s a small thing, but it’s actually big. We need to separate biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. Do not mix them.”

The garbage collection halt comes as search and rescue operations continue at the Binaliw landfill, which collapsed at around 4:17 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8.

As of 6:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 9, the CCDRRMC reported that 38 individuals remain unaccounted for out of the 110 employees present at the site during the incident.

One fatality — a 22-year-old woman — has been confirmed, while 12 others are hospitalized, seven at the Visayas Medical Center and five at NorthGen Hospital.

A total of 333 responders from various government agencies and partner organizations remain deployed, supported by ambulances, fire trucks, and lighting equipment.

Mayor Nestor Archival earlier assured families of the missing workers that search and rescue operations would continue around the clock.

“Search and rescue will not stop as long as there is hope,” Archival said in a statement issued late Thursday.

He further added that city officials have personally reached out to families to assure them of continued efforts and support.(TGP)