A major landslide at the Binaliw landfill in Cebu City has sparked urgent calls for accountability and reform from waste workers across the Philippines. The tragic incident, which occurred on January 8, 2026, is being labeled not as an accident but as a preventable disaster.
A Foreseeable Tragedy, Not an Accident
The Philippine National Waste Workers Alliance (PNWWA) issued a powerful statement on January 15, 2026, asserting that the deadly garbage slide was a direct result of long-standing systemic failures. The group emphasized that workers had repeatedly warned about hazardous conditions at landfill sites, including the risk of collapses from over-capacity operations and unstable waste piles.
"This was neither an accident nor a natural disaster," the alliance stated, pointing to chronic neglect, the absence of adequate safety measures, and the failure to heed workers' concerns as the root causes.
Calls for Action and Immediate Aid
In response to the tragedy, PNWWA has made several critical demands. First, they are pushing for a full, transparent, and independent investigation to identify any negligence or regulatory failures that contributed to the landslide.
Secondly, the alliance is demanding immediate and comprehensive assistance for the affected families. This aid package should include:
- Fair compensation
- Medical care and psychosocial support
- Livelihood assistance
Systemic Reforms and Worker Protection
The group highlighted the broader context of the disaster: the consistent failure to fully implement Republic Act 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. According to PNWWA, the lack of proper waste reduction, segregation, recycling, and composting has led to dangerous levels of accumulation in landfills like Binaliw.
"Reliance on dumping is not a solution—it is a recipe for recurring disaster," the statement read, urging a decisive shift toward safe and inclusive zero-waste systems.
Furthermore, PNWWA renewed its call for the immediate passage of the proposed Magna Carta for Waste Workers. This legislation is seen as essential to establish enforceable standards for occupational safety, fair compensation, and social protection for all waste workers, both formal and informal.
The alliance stressed that these workers must be recognized as essential frontline personnel whose safety, dignity, and rights require robust protection. They concluded that the Cebu landfill tragedy must serve as a definitive turning point for meaningful reforms in the country's approach to solid waste management and worker welfare.
