The Cebu Provincial Government has activated emergency measures to maintain uninterrupted garbage disposal after the Binaliw landfill was rendered unusable by a landslide on January 8, 2026.
As a temporary solution, provincial waste from the Capitol and other province-managed facilities will now be transported to the San Rafael Sanitary Landfill in Aloguinsan, Cebu, following coordination with concerned agencies and local officials.
Provincial Administrator Atty. Ace Durano said the decision responded to the urgent need to relocate garbage previously dumped at Binaliw, which has long served as the primary disposal site for provincial properties in Cebu City.
“The diversion to Aloguinsan was agreed upon during a meeting on January 12 with representatives from the Provincial General Services Office, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Aloguinsan Mayor Cesare Ignatius ‘Ig-Ig’ G. Moreno,” Durano said.
The DENR, through Secretary Raphael “Popo” Lotilla, identified the Aloguinsan landfill as a viable short-term option while the province continues to seek a permanent waste management strategy.
Durano noted that the Aloguinsan facility has been operational for several years and has previously accommodated Cebu City’s waste during the terms of former mayors Mike Rama and Edgar Labella.
Garbage hauling to Aloguinsan will follow a scheduled rotation, with deliveries reaching up to 100 cubic meters per trip, primarily covering waste generated by provincial offices and establishments based in Cebu City.
Durano clarified that the arrangement does not automatically cover waste from other local government units, as many municipalities already operate their own disposal facilities.
He cited Consolacion, Danao, and Minglanilla as LGUs with their own landfills, which gives them flexibility in handling their respective waste.
While Aloguinsan serves as an interim solution, the provincial government is exploring closer disposal sites, including potential partnerships with Consolacion and Minglanilla, to reduce hauling distance and costs.
Another possible relief is the planned opening of a landfill in Toledo City by February, which could help decongest provincial waste operations.
Beyond immediate measures, provincial officials are stepping up efforts to move away from traditional sanitary landfills, which they consider unsustainable given Cebu’s limited land space and growing waste volume.
Durano added that the operator of the Aloguinsan landfill has begun installing waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities, a development reportedly approved by both the Department of Science and Technology and the DENR. (SBA)
