Cebu City to join DENR probe on Binaliw landfill collapse, says Archival

Mayor Nestor Archival said Cebu City will cooperate with any investigation into the deadly Binaliw landfill collapse if the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) formally pursues a probe involving landfill operator Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc. (PIWS).

Archival said search and retrieval operations at the Barangay Binaliw landfill are complete, and debris clearing is expected to finish within days.

Authorities will then shift focus to accountability, recovery assistance, and contingency waste management plans.

“If the DENR conducts an investigation, we will join them,” Archival said, adding that the city is ready to fully cooperate once a formal probe begins.

He said all missing individuals have been recovered, describing it as a “small measure of success” amid the tragedy. Families affected by the collapse have now been able to retrieve their loved ones.

“Our priority now is moving forward,” Archival said.

The city has coordinated with landfill management to provide assistance to affected families.

Some expenses have already been covered, and limited financial aid has been released.

The government continues to assess additional needs, particularly for the more than 100 families impacted by the incident.

Coordination is ongoing between the city, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and landfill management to ensure sustained support.

With the Binaliw landfill indefinitely closed, Cebu City faces an urgent waste disposal challenge. Archival said the city is actively exploring alternative landfill sites outside Consolacion, including Pinamungajan, Bogo City, Minglanilla, and Toledo City.

“This will be temporary, until we clearly identify a viable site,” he said, noting that at least three options are currently under evaluation.

While Cebu City has sufficient funds to cover tipping fees, hauling costs are rising due to longer transport distances.

“We requested an additional budget. The problem is hauling fees because the sites are far,” Archival said, stressing that interim arrangements are unavoidable.

He urged residents to cooperate with waste management policies to reduce the volume of garbage being disposed of daily, especially amid uncollected waste along roads.

The city’s planned strict enforcement of waste segregation, initially set for February 1, has been moved to March to allow more time for public education.

Archival said he plans to visit schools and deploy trained volunteers to conduct information drives on proper segregation practices.

Archival said it remains unclear whether the Binaliw landfill will ever reopen, as the decision rests entirely with the DENR.

“I told them it is their responsibility to accept garbage, but what happened was beyond that,” he said, referring to landfill management.

PIWS has proposed establishing a transfer station at the site, pending DENR approval, but the mayor said no decision has been finalized.

“We will request the DENR to allow a transfer station there, but it is still not definite whether it will be permitted,” he said.

The Binaliw landfill collapsed earlier this month, prompting authorities to halt operations.

Located in an upland residential barangay, the facility had long faced complaints over safety, environmental compliance, and waste volume.

Operated by PIWS, the landfill serves Cebu City and neighboring local government units, making its closure a regional concern.

Following the incident, the DENR issued a cease-and-desist order, suspending operations except for cleanup and stabilization.

National agencies are conducting technical assessments to determine the cause of the collapse and evaluate regulatory compliance. (LLP)

Image/Dave Tumulak