In response to the deadly collapse of the Binaliw landfill, the Cebu City Council has declared a state of calamity, unlocking P30 million in emergency funds as the city grapples with both the human toll and a worsening garbage disposal crisis.
The declaration was approved during the council’s regular session on Tuesday, January 13, following a resolution sponsored by Councilor Dave Tumulak, head of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC).
Grounded in Republic Act 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, the declaration allows the city government to respond more quickly to disasters caused by natural or human-induced hazards, especially those resulting in deaths, injuries, or serious disruption to essential services.
In its resolution, the council described the incident at Prime Waste Solutions Cebu, operator of the Binaliw landfill, as “grave and tragic,” citing the loss of lives, injuries, missing persons, and the continuing threat to public health and the environment.
As of January 13, authorities confirmed that the death toll had reached 12, with 18 individuals injured and hospitalized.
At least 25 people remain missing, prompting round-the-clock search, rescue, and retrieval operations at the unstable and waterlogged site.
Beyond the immediate human cost, the council noted that the partial closure and limited operation of the Binaliw landfill have disrupted waste disposal services across Cebu City—raising concerns over a possible secondary public health and environmental crisis if alternative arrangements are not implemented.
To address these urgent needs, the council approved the release of P30 million from the Quick Response Fund of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF) for 2026.
The funds will primarily cover emergency garbage disposal services and other immediate expenditures related to the landfill collapse.
The state of calamity declaration also authorizes the city government to fast-track emergency procurement and mobilize resources for relief, rehabilitation, and recovery efforts.
Under the resolution, the Office of the Mayor, working with the Department of Public Services (DPS) and other concerned offices, has been directed to identify and secure a final waste disposal site within 48 hours of the resolution’s approval.
Copies of the resolution will be distributed to key offices, including the CCDRRMC, CCDRRMO, Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), the Liga ng mga Barangay, law enforcement agencies, and other concerned units to ensure coordinated implementation.
The declaration comes amid ongoing tense search and rescue operations at the Binaliw landfill, where families continue to hope for news of missing loved ones.
Earlier reports confirmed that 11 bodies had been retrieved, while one fatality remains buried under tons of waste and debris.
Authorities have emphasized that operations remain in the search and rescue phase, leaving open the possibility of survival, however slim.
“We cannot yet call this purely retrieval,” Tumulak said. “We are still hoping for a miracle.”
Rescuers continue to work in dangerous conditions, complicated by heavy equipment use and rain-soaked ground that has made detecting signs of life increasingly difficult.
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival Jr. earlier said the landfill operator committed to covering the medical expenses of injured victims and providing assistance to the families of those who died.
Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has issued a cease-and-desist order against the Binaliw landfill, temporarily halting its operations while investigations continue. (LLP)
Photo by Jacq Hernandez
