The Mandaue City Council is set to pass a formal resolution to extend condolences and possible financial assistance to the families of those who died and were injured in the recent tragedy at the Binaliw landfill. This move underscores the city's acknowledgment of its responsibility in the waste management crisis.
City Acknowledges Responsibility for Landfill Victims
Councilor Carlo Fortuna, who chairs the Committee on Foreign and Domestic Relations, revealed the council's plan. He stated that the council recognizes the victims as part of the city's responsibility because Mandaue's garbage is dumped at the Binaliw landfill site.
Fortuna emphasized that the affected workers, including residents of Mandaue employed at the landfill, are considered part of the city's waste management system. "Yes, we will pass a resolution to convey our condolences and financial aid to the families of those who died and were injured at the Barangay Binaliw landfill," Fortuna confirmed.
Plans for Aid and System Review
Apart from the victims' families, the council also extended its apologies to Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc., the company operating the landfill. Fortuna disclosed that there have already been discussions with Mayor Thadeo Jovito 'Jonkie' Ouano regarding the provision of cash aid, especially for Mandaue residents working at the site.
The councilor added that the body will study the matter to ensure any assistance provided is in accordance with the law. "Simultaneously, we will also pass a resolution requesting the City Planning Office and the Mandaue City Environment and Natural Resources Office to submit any plan to improve or enhance our waste management system, due to the situation at the Binaliw landfill," Fortuna further explained.
Landfill Exceeds Agreed Capacity
Fortuna, a former vice mayor, recalled that when the Binaliw landfill was approved during his previous term, the agreement between Mandaue and Prime Waste Solutions Inc. stipulated that the landfill must remain "flat" or level.
"But based on what we have seen in videos now, it already looks like a mountain. The volume of garbage dumped there has become excessively large," he reported. This breach of contract highlights a significant failure in oversight.
The incident has raised growing concerns about how much longer the landfill can withstand receiving waste not only from Mandaue but also from other towns and cities. The tragedy has exposed critical vulnerabilities in the region's waste disposal infrastructure, prompting urgent calls for systemic review and action.
