Philippines’ Cebu residents cry foul over mounting garbage, health risks
The fatal collapse of a garbage landfill in Cebu has also exposed lax enforcement and poor waste management
The deadly avalanche of debris struck on January 8 at a 15-hectare (37-acre) landfill in Binaliw village, Cebu City, when more than 100 sanitation workers were on site. Officials said recent earthquakes and heavy rainfall might have destabilised the soil, contributing to the collapse.
Cebu City councillor Joel Garganera, who chairs the city’s environmental committee, blamed poor waste-management practices, local media reported. The city declared a day of mourning as rescuers continued to search for victims amid fears of a further collapse.
Cebu, the Philippines’ second-largest metropolitan area, has faced a serious garbage problem for years, according to Joel Lee, executive director of the Movement for a Liveable Cebu, a citizens’ empowerment initiative.
The city produces roughly 500 tonnes to 600 tonnes of garbage each day, much of it now directed to Binaliw and other sites after the Supreme Court ordered the closure of the old Inayawan landfill in 2017. The court’s ruling came nearly a decade after Inayawan had exceeded its planned seven-year lifespan as Cebu’s official landfill.
Located near residential areas, the Binaliw site has long drawn complaints about foul odour, water contamination and traffic congestion caused by garbage trucks.