Cebu Province Establishes Emergency Waste Disposal Plan Following Deadly Landfill Collapse
In response to the catastrophic landfill collapse that claimed 36 lives, two local government units in Cebu Province have been designated as temporary disposal sites for Cebu City's mounting waste. Provincial officials confirmed on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, that Aloguinsan and Toledo City will accept garbage to address the disposal crisis triggered by the deadly trash slide at the Binaliw landfill on January 8, 2026.
Emergency Transfer Plan Activated
Governor Pamela Baricuatro announced that Aloguinsan Mayor Cesare Ignatius "Ig-Ig" Moreno has agreed to accept waste from Cebu City. Under the Provincial Government's emergency plan, the San Rafael Sanitary Landfill in Aloguinsan will serve as the primary disposal site, while Toledo City is preparing a secondary dumpsite expected to be operational by April.
Provincial Administrator Ace Durano clarified that garbage collection will prioritize waste from Capitol properties affected by the Binaliw closure. Disposal operations will follow a scheduled basis with deliveries limited to volumes of up to 100 cubic meters per transport. The Binaliw facility may potentially function as a transfer point before waste reaches the new sites, according to Governor Baricuatro.
Strict Safety Requirements for Binaliw Rehabilitation
During an executive session of the Cebu City Council, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 outlined extensive repair requirements before the Binaliw landfill could operate as a transfer station. Environmental Management Bureau 7 Director John Edward Ang revealed that DENR 7 has ordered landfill operator Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc. (Piwsi) to implement immediate emergency stabilization measures.
The mandated requirements include:
- Comprehensive slope stability analysis
- Enhanced leachate containment systems
- Establishment of adequate buffer zones
- Daily soil covering of active dumping areas
- Capping of inactive sections
- Installation of gas management systems
Ang emphasized that the mounting volume of solid waste in the staging area posed significant risks of further slope failure, prompting orders for immediate reduction. While inspectors observed ongoing remediation and engineering works that could eventually allow the facility to function as a transfer station, no specific date has been provided for resuming operations.
Regulatory Compliance Questions and Time Constraints
Cebu City faces mounting pressure to finalize its new disposal scheme as the 30-day window for dumping garbage in Barangay Polog, Consolacion, is expected to lapse on February 15. Questions regarding the Binaliw landfill's regulatory compliance continue to surface, with Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera questioning whether the facility had exceeded its operational lifespan.
Garganera noted that DENR records estimated a five-year lifespan beginning in 2020, suggesting the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) period may have effectively lapsed. "Whatever is stated in the ECC should be complied with," Garganera emphasized during council discussions.
Long-Term Solutions and Nationwide Review
Looking ahead, Aloguinsan's San Rafael Sanitary Landfill will begin installing a waste-to-energy facility after securing necessary approvals from DENR and other agencies. Provincial officials view this development as a potential long-term solution that could generate alternative energy for local consumption.
Regarding Piwsi, Director Ang, who assumed office on January 21, confirmed that EMB 7 had previously issued notices of violation against the company. He added that the DENR Central Office is conducting a nationwide review of all operating sanitary landfills in response to the Binaliw tragedy, signaling broader regulatory implications from the January 8 incident that concluded search and retrieval operations on January 17.
The 20-hectare Binaliw facility, which previously served Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu cities, had been subject to complaints regarding foul odors and sanitation standards since 2023. Following the collapse, the environment department issued a cease and desist order, and Cebu City declared a state of calamity.
