Rescue teams are in a race against time at the ground zero of a devastating landslide in Cebu City, as the death toll rises and authorities scramble to address a systemic waste disposal crisis.
Search Continues as Calamity is Declared
The fatal trash slide at the Binaliw sanitary landfill in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City, on January 8, 2026, has now claimed 12 lives. As of Tuesday, January 13, search, rescue, and retrieval operations persist, with more than 25 workers still reported missing. In response to the scale of the tragedy and the impending garbage disposal emergency, the Cebu City Council has declared a state of calamity.
DENR Secretary Directs Immediate and Long-Term Action
Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla has taken decisive steps following the disaster. He has directed the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to pursue comprehensive, long-term solutions for Cebu's solid waste management system.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Central Visayas promptly issued a cease-and-desist order against the facility operator, Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc. This order has halted all landfill operations and waste acceptance at the site. Only rescue, retrieval, and essential cleanup activities are permitted to proceed.
Technical Teams Mobilized for Rapid Assessment
Lotilla instructed technical teams to conduct a rapid site appraisal within 72 hours. This critical assessment will cover:
- Engineering and geotechnical risks
- Environmental hazards
- Waste pile stability
- Drainage conditions
Furthermore, the DENR is coordinating with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and local officials to identify and remove barriers to using alternative disposal sites. This is urgent as Cebu City generates between 500 and 600 tons of garbage daily, creating immense pressure on the waste system.
Operator Must Submit Rehabilitation Plan
A technical conference will be convened with Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc. The operator is mandated to submit a detailed rehabilitation and mitigation plan within 90 days. This plan must specifically address critical issues of waste mound stability and leachate control to prevent future catastrophes.
The tragedy at the Binaliw landfill has exposed deep vulnerabilities in urban waste management, prompting a forceful government intervention aimed at both immediate accountability and sustainable reform.
