Days after Binaliw landfill collapse, Cebu City declares state of calamity

CEBU, Philippines – Five days after the Binaliw landfill landslide, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Cebu City approved during a regular session on Tuesday, January 13, a resolution declaring a state of calamity due to the adverse effects caused by the incident.

“Whereas, the closure or limited operation of the Binaliw Landfill has significantly disrupted waste disposal services affecting the barangays of Cebu City, thereby necessitating immediate alternative arrangements to prevent a secondary public health and environmental crisis,” the resolution read.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas on Monday, January 12, issued a cease-and-desist order against Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Incorporated, the operator of the landfill in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City.

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Cebu City primarily transports its garbage to the landfill, which the operator had previously claimed handles around 1,000 tons of garbage per day.

The council also approved the use of P30 million from the city’s Quick Response Fund of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund 2026 for expenditures related to garbage disposal services.

At present, the city government is searching for temporary transfer stations for its garbage while the Binaliw landfill remains inoperable and rescue operations continue at the site.

In the same regular session, Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, author of the resolution, shared that the city’s Department of Social Welfare and Services had set aside funds to support the families who lost their loved ones in the landslide.

The city council directed the Office of the Mayor, in coordination with the Department of Public Services and other concerned offices, to secure a final disposal site for the city’s existing waste within the next 48 hours after the approval of the declaration of the state of calamity.

As of writing, officials reported that 13 people have died due to the landslide, while 18 have been hospitalized, and 23 remain missing. – Rappler.com