Cebu City councilors were reportedly not provided with key documents from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 regarding the limited reopening of the Prime Integrated Waste Solutions (PWS) Cebu facility in Barangay Binaliw. This has raised concerns about safety and transparency following the Jan. 8 trash slide that killed 36 people.
Councilor Expresses Disappointment
Councilor Joel Garganera stated that Mayor Nestor Archival received communication from DENR 7 about the landfill's limited reopening, but the information was not shared with the City Council. He said the lack of coordination undermined the council's ability to assess safety issues at the facility.
"I am disappointed that the mayor received something from the DENR, but we did not. He did not even send it to us. Without sending your technical people for due diligence, especially since we are supposed to be looking at safety," Garganera said during an interview on SunStar Cebu's Beyond the Headline on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Safety Concerns Highlighted
Garganera emphasized that safety should not be compromised, referencing the Jan. 8 trash slide at the Binaliw landfill that killed 36 people and led to a cease and desist order (CDO) against the facility. "It is different to say we can save on costs. We should not compromise safety. That is a lesson for us because 36 lives were lost," he said.
The PWS Cebu facility was ordered closed after the collapse, prompting investigations by national and local authorities and raising concerns over structural stability, waste volume management, and compliance with environmental standards. Since then, the facility has remained under regulatory scrutiny, with the Environmental Management Bureau 7 reviewing compliance requirements and setting conditions for any possible resumption of operations.
Limited Reopening Sparks Confusion
The issue resurfaced during a recent executive session of the City Council, where councilors expressed surprise after reports emerged that PWS Cebu had resumed limited operations under a partial lifting of the CDO issued by DENR 7. During the session, DENR 7 Solid Waste Management Chief John Roy Kyamko clarified that the partial lifting applies only to a designated interim cell and not to the entire landfill facility, adding that operations are subject to strict environmental safeguards.
PWS representative Niño Abellana Jr. said the facility's limited operations were based on regulatory clearance tied to its environmental compliance certificate amendment and interim cell design. The site, he said, was operating under controlled conditions and in close coordination with regulators.
Council Kept in the Dark
Despite the clarifications, Garganera said the council was not properly informed of the developments and remains uncertain about the scope and timing of the reopening. "We're never furnished with updates. We are not asking for a blow-by-blow account, but it has already been around 110 days and we still do not know what is going on. Where are we in this process?" he asked.
He also raised concern over how the CDO could be partially lifted while investigations into the fatal collapse remain ongoing. "My point is, it is the same premises. Can a CDO be lifted pending the outcome of the investigation?" he said.
Garganera noted that while Mayor Archival acknowledged receiving DENR documents, the council was not given full details of the authorization or its conditions. "The mayor received a copy, but he did not even disclose what was contained in the permit or if there were any amendments. His only comment was that there might be testing in the disposal of garbage," he said.
Impact on Residents
Garganera said residents near the facility are burdened by garbage and traffic impacts and should at least be informed so authorities can prepare traffic management, disaster response, and scheduling measures. He said no such coordination was done.
Garganera also criticized what he described as a lack of transparency in the handling of the facility's operations. "It just shows they are not being transparent. Not only that, but they are trying to twist facts," he said.
DENR 7 has maintained that the partial lifting covers only a controlled interim cell within the facility and does not constitute a full reopening of the landfill, while the council continues to seek complete documentation and coordination on the site's operational status and rehabilitation.
