The City Government of Davao has confirmed the temporary suspension of the Barangay New Carmen Sanitary Landfill effective May 22, following a mass-wasting event that occurred on May 20, 2026. Harvey Lanticse, head of the City Information Office, announced that a motion for reconsideration was filed on May 26 with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Davao Region (DENR-Davao), citing results of geotechnical assessments and recommended corrective measures for the landfill.
New Landfill Facility to Be Utilized
“The city will utilize its new landfill facility adjacent to the existing site in Barangay New Carmen,” Lanticse stated on May 26. The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) will continue garbage collection as scheduled but reminded the public to segregate waste to reduce the volume dumped in the landfill.
DENR Orders Suspension
Earlier, DENR-Davao announced the suspension of waste disposal at the Davao City Sanitary Landfill. Atty. Maria Mercedes V. Dumagan, regional director of DENR-Davao, said the suspension allows the local government to implement stabilization measures and comply with Republic Act No. 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act) and conditions of the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC). She encouraged public trust in the local government’s plans and adherence to safety directives.
“We strongly encourage all Dabawenyos to practice waste segregation at home and adopt proper waste management to reduce the volume of garbage collected by our LGU. This simple effort will be a big help and will significantly ease our waste collection challenges,” Dumagan said on May 25.
DENR Secretary Calls for Collaboration
DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna stated that once landfill operations are suspended, they will not resume until the site is declared safe. He emphasized the need for collaboration, noting the department’s commitment to ensuring the waste facility remains safe, compliant, and resilient. Cuna described the mass-wasting incident as unacceptable and highlighted the urgency of completing proper measures.
“The DENR and the LGU have been working together on the technical and regulatory requirements for months. This incident reinforces the need to accelerate slope stabilization and the safe closure plan,” Cuna said on May 21.
Details of the Incident
The mass-wasting occurred around 1:10 p.m. on May 20 at the Davao Sanitary Landfill. Rescue teams searched for individuals buried by the trash slide. The City Engineer’s Office (CEO) declared the area unsafe for full entry, halting disposal operations while technical teams evaluated the extent of waste movement.
DENR inspection records show the landfill has been under close monitoring since January. The Environmental Management Bureau-Davao Region (EMB-Davao) held technical meetings with the local government on January 20 and March 4 and issued a Notice of Violation on March 19 for operating without a discharge permit, failing to meet standards, and maintaining an inadequate leachate treatment system. A technical conference on April 29 led to the city committing to penalties and submitting a pollution control program.
Inspections revealed steep slopes, a collapsed leachate pond, and the presence of informal waste pickers and makeshift dwellings on the landfill’s perimeter. DENR recommended slope stabilization, partial closure of sections, and relocation of homes along the 200-meter buffer zone.
Casualties and Evacuations
The incident claimed one life, injured two people, and left two others missing. Initial investigations attributed the mass-wasting to water buildup underneath the landfill after heavy rains, causing a portion of the garbage mound to collapse and bury houses. Approximately 123 homeowners, six sharers, 374 dependents, one renter, and one boarder were evacuated to the gymnasium beside the Barangay Hall in Purok 3, New Carmen.
Landfill Capacity and Future Plans
The landfill receives about 786 tons of waste daily and is nearing full capacity. Cenro reported an average daily collection of 737 tons in May 2025, 753 tons in 2024, 746 tons in 2023, and 782 tons in 2022. To address the city’s garbage situation, the local government allocated funds for an expansion adjacent to the current site, with construction now at 52 percent completion.
