DENR shuts down collapsed Cebu landfill

January 13, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has stopped the operation of a landfill in Cebu City where a mountain of garbage collapsed, leaving eight people dead and 28 missing.

The DENR yesterday said that the Environmental Management Bureau-Central Visayas issued a cease-and-desist order on the Binaliw landfill after members of the EMB technical working group inspected the site on Jan. 9, the day after the incident.

The order was in compliance with an EMB memorandum circular authorizing the head of the EMB-Central Visayas to stop landfill operations when grave or irreparable environmental damage is imminent.

The DENR directed operators of the Binaliw landfill to stop all operations including acceptance of waste, and to allow only rescue, retrieval and cleanup activities at the site.

“The DENR is committed to a thorough, impartial and evidence-based investigation to determine the causes of the incident, the responsibilities and accountabilities of relevant parties, and the changes needed moving forward,” the agency said.

The EMB summoned operators of the Binaliw landfill to a technical conference, to establish the facts surrounding the collapse of the garbage, and to execute a compliance commitment within 90 days.

As this developed, the number of fatalities in the trash slide has increased to eight after two more bodies were retrieved from the rubble yesterday.

Search, rescue and retrieval teams continue to look for 28 people believed trapped under the garbage and debris of a materials recovery facility and staff houses.

The number of injured victims has increased to 18 from 12 previously. They are being treated in different hospitals.

The incident, which occurred on Jan. 8, prompted Sen. Imee Marcos to seek a Senate inquiry into the compliance by sanitary landfills with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

Marcos urged the Senate to examine whether existing laws, rules and regulations are sufficient to address the country’s growing waste problem.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has extended assistance to residents affected by the collapse of the garbage.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said that boxes of ready-to-eat food have been distributed to people who have been waiting for news about their missing relatives.

The DSWD said it has condoled with the families of the fatalities. — Delon Porcalla, Neil Jayson Servallos