Heroic Garbage Worker Rescued Colleagues During Binaliw Trash Slide

In the aftermath of the deadly Binaliw landfill collapse, the Cebu City Council recognized a worker whose quick actions helped save lives.

During its regular session on January 20, the Sangguniang Panlungsod approved a resolution commending John Lloyd Ople, a garbage truck spot checker at Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc. (PIWS) in Barangay Binaliw, for rescuing fellow workers moments after the January 8 trash slide.

According to the resolution, Ople was among the first to notice the landslide and, despite the risk to his own life, rushed toward the danger.

Before authorities and emergency responders arrived, he managed to pull at least three co-workers to safety.

Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr., who sponsored the resolution, described Ople’s actions as a display of presence of mind and selflessness at a time when seconds mattered, crediting his intervention with preventing further loss of life.

The resolution also urges Mayor Nestor Archival to provide financial assistance to Ople in recognition of his heroism.

Beyond the commendation, the council used the resolution to call for broader support for those affected by the tragedy.

It formally asked PIWS to immediately provide financial, medical, and humanitarian aid to the families of workers who were injured, went missing, or died in the incident.

Ople’s story became public after he shared his experience with the media, recounting the frantic moments following the landslide and the difficult choices made in the face of danger.

The January 8 Binaliw landfill collapse remains under investigation and has led to the indefinite closure of the facility, intensifying scrutiny over landfill operations and safety standards in Cebu City. (LLP)

Photo from Jacq Hernandez, Screenshot of Kons Winston Pepito Facebook Post