A landfill linked to a deadly collapse resumed limited operations in Barangay Binaliw while government investigators have yet to release full findings on the January 8, 2026 disaster that killed at least 35 workers and intensified Cebu City’s waste management crisis.
Prime Integrated Waste Solutions (PWS) Cebu restarted partial operations last week, according to manager Niño Abellana Jr., who confirmed the development during a Cebu City Council executive session on April 28.
Council members said the company did not notify them before the reopening.
Abellana said the facility now accepts less than 50 metric tons of waste daily from private commercial establishments.
He said workers process the waste in designated interim cells, which the company uses to test capacity and operations before any full-scale reopening.
The operator said it keeps operations within the limits of the interim cells and does not exceed approved capacity.
It also said it uses the setup to address Cebu City’s growing waste backlog and higher hauling costs after the city lost access to some disposal facilities.
Councilor Joel Garganera, chair of the Committee on Environment, said the local government unit did not receive formal notice of the reopening and raised concerns over coordination and transparency while the investigation remains unfinished.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas (DENR 7) issued a partial lifting of a cease-and-desist order tied to amendments in the facility’s Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).
The agency limited the authorization to specific interim cells and excluded the rest of the landfill site.
DENR 7 solid waste management chief John Roy Kyamko said inspectors conducted assessments before the reopening.
He said the clearance allows operations only in interim cells located more than 100 meters from the area that collapsed in January.
He also clarified that the approval does not certify the entire site as safe.
Abellana said the company follows DENR rules and local permits.
He said the facility does not currently accept waste from local government units but may join future public bidding once Cebu City opens formal waste disposal contracts.
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival defended the partial reopening and said it may benefit the city if operators comply with regulations.
He said the city received DENR notice of the partial lifting before operations resumed and confirmed that the activity applies only to a permitted cell separate from the landslide area.
Archival said the approved cell already holds the necessary permits and Environmental Compliance Certificate and serves as a testing area separate from the collapsed section.
During council deliberations, officials questioned how the facility processes waste and whether it operates as a materials recovery facility or an open dumpsite.
Abellana said the facility processes about 50 percent of incoming waste, but council members challenged the claim based on site observations.
Council members also revisited the January 8 tragedy. Abellana attributed the collapse to natural causes such as earthquakes and heavy rainfall.
He said internal safety documents were lost during the incident.
Officials also raised concerns about reported financial assistance to victims’ families. Abellana said the company covered funeral expenses, hospital bills, and salaries but declined to disclose specific amounts.
Labor and environmental groups continued to demand the release of investigation documents from DENR 7 and the operator.
The Alyansa ng Mamumuo sa Sugbo–Kilusang Mayo Uno filed a Freedom of Information request seeking investigation reports, compliance records, and operational plans.
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