Days of relentless rainfall culminated in a dangerous environmental incident in Cebu City, as a section of the Binaliw dumpsite collapsed, sending piles of garbage sliding into nearby residential areas.
Emergency Response Activated After Garbage Slide
On Thursday, January 8, 2025, the softened soil and waste at the Binaliw facility gave way, partially burying several houses located within the landfill's perimeter. Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera, who chairs the Committee on Environment, confirmed that disaster response teams and five ambulances were immediately dispatched to the scene.
"We have already deployed disaster response teams, and we also sent personnel from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) to conduct a drone assessment to determine the extent of the affected area," Garganera stated. Initial reports indicated that many homes were impacted by the sudden slide of refuse.
Inherent Risks of an "Open Dumpsite"
Garganera attributed the collapse directly to the nature of the Binaliw facility, which he emphasized is an open dumpsite, not a sanitary landfill. He described its problematic operation: "They cut through the mountain and mine the soil, then fill the other half with garbage. In effect, they level the mountain to create another mountain made of waste."
The councilor issued a stark warning about the risks posed by the ever-growing mound of trash. "Even ordinary mountains made of soil and rock can experience landslides. How much more a mountain of garbage?" he said. The continuous rain in the preceding days further saturated and softened the waste mass, making the collapse almost inevitable.
Criticism of Operations and Expansion
Garganera also criticized the landfill operators for inadequate safety measures, both inside the dumpsite and for the surrounding community. He linked the incident to ongoing attempts to expand the landfill as it nears capacity. "When the site is already full, they try to expand. That's what we are seeing now," he explained.
Despite his repeated efforts to shut down the facility, Garganera noted that Binaliw continues to operate as the city's final disposal site for solid waste. "As I have said before, I have moved heaven and earth to have this landfill closed, but operations have continued," he added, highlighting a persistent challenge in Cebu City's waste management.
