Cebu Archbishop Alberto "Abet" Uy visited the site of a devastating landfill collapse in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City, on Thursday, January 15, 2026, to offer spiritual comfort and material aid to the affected families.
A Week After the Tragedy: Spiritual Solace at the Site
Exactly one week after the catastrophic garbage slide at the Binaliw landfill, Archbishop Uy personally went to the location to conduct a Holy Mass. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu detailed the visit in a social media post on the evening of January 15.
At the site of the tragedy, the Archbishop offered the Mass for the eternal repose of those who lost their lives, commending them to God's mercy. He also led prayers for strength, comfort, and hope for the grieving families and all individuals deeply impacted by the disaster.
Church Mobilizes for Concrete Support
Archbishop Uy was not alone in his mission of solidarity. He was accompanied by personnel from Cebu Caritas Inc., the social action arm of the archdiocese, with the clear objective of providing tangible assistance.
Archbishop Abet led the distribution of relief goods to the survivors, personally expressing the Church's closeness and solidarity with them during their profound time of sorrow. This action underscored the Church's dual role of providing both spiritual and physical support in the wake of the calamity.
The Scale of the Disaster and a City in Mourning
The visit came against a backdrop of immense loss. The landslide occurred the previous week when a mountain of garbage at the Cebu City facility collapsed, trapping approximately 50 workers underneath.
By Friday, January 16, the grim statistics prompted an official Day of Mourning across the entire Cebu City. The confirmed death toll had risen to 25 individuals. The search for answers and victims continued, with 11 people still reported missing and 18 others injured from the incident.
The community's grief was palpable, making the pastoral and charitable visit by the Archbishop and Caritas a significant moment of shared sorrow and support for the victims' families and the wider community shaken by the event.
