Cebu LGUs face garbage disposal woes after dumpsite landslide

Local

SEVERAL local government units are racing against time to manage household waste after the landslide at the Binaliw landfill forced the temporary closure of Metro Cebu's main waste disposal site.

The incident has claimed eight lives and left several others missing, disrupting garbage collection across the metropolis and exposing longstanding gaps in waste management.

Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, reported that as of 8:10 p.m. on Sunday, January 11, search and rescue teams had retrieved eight bodies from the collapsed landfill, including two women.

He said several individuals remain missing beneath the garbage mound.

Tumulak said the Philippine Army deployed 38 personnel from the 525th Engineering Battalion and 10 chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) specialists to assist local responders.

“Mayor Nestor Archival said awhile ago that the search and rescue will continue,” Tumulak told reporters in Sunday night.

Archival reiterated on Monday, January 12, that the death toll remains at eight as rescue operations entered their fourth day.

He said the city government would decide later in the afternoon whether to shift from search and rescue to retrieval operations.

“We are still in rescue mode, even if 72 hours have already lapsed. We are hoping that there are still people alive,” Archival said.

He stressed that rescue efforts must proceed slowly and carefully due to multiple hazards at the site, particularly the collapsed structure of Prime Waste Solutions Inc., the landfill’s operator.

Archival explained that attempting to lift the collapsed structure could further trap individuals in the middle.

He added that cutting the structure into smaller pieces was not feasible due to spewing gas in the area, which could ignite if mishandled.

Responders continued to face multiple hazards, including foul odors, trapped methane gas, embedded steel debris, and persistent rainfall.

To limit health risks, authorities implemented rotating shifts, allowing personnel to work on-site for only one hour at a time before resting.

A total of 248 personnel from various agencies are deployed at the site, including local disaster response teams, the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Public Works and Highways, and private volunteers.

Additional heavy equipment, such as a crane, backhoe, manlift, prime mover, dump truck, and two telehandlers, was deployed on Monday to support ongoing operations.

In Lapu-Lapu City, Mayor Cindi King Chan said the city has temporarily stopped hauling garbage to Binaliw due to safety concerns.

She added that the local government has requested the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas (DENR 7) to approve the operation of its transfer station at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Barangay Soong, Mactan.

“This will allow us to continue garbage collection from households despite the suspension of operations at the Binaliw landfill,” Chan said.

She urged residents to reduce waste generation and strictly practice segregation, recycling, and composting at home.

“Recyclable materials such as plastic bottles, plastic cups, cardboard, and other reusable items should be properly separated to prevent them from adding to the city’s waste volume,” she added.

Biodegradable waste, including dried leaves, fruit and vegetable peelings, and food leftovers, may be composted in household pits.

Chan also announced that the city will convene its Solid Waste Management Board this week to discuss the implementation of a purok-based waste segregation system and other programs aimed at reducing, reusing, and recycling waste.

In Mandaue City, Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano rolled out a temporary emergency response plan following the landfill closure.

The city opened a transfer station in Barangay Umapad on January 10, accepting garbage from barangay trucks under a scheduled dumping system.

Morning collections from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. cover the Kabukiran, Centro, and Mahiga clusters, while afternoon pickups from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. serve the Butuanon and Kadagatan clusters.

Ouano called on residents to strictly observe proper garbage disposal and comply with tighter waste segregation policies amid the emergency.(MyTVCebu)