CCCI warns of operational risks amid landfill incident

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) warned of heightened operational and environmental risks for businesses following a landslide at the Cebu City landfill in Barangay Binaliw, an incident that has raised fresh concerns over waste management and public safety in one of the region’s key economic hubs.

In a statement, CCCI president Jay Y. Yuvallos said the business sector’s immediate concern centers on the safety of workers and nearby communities, as well as the potential disruption to waste disposal systems that support commercial and industrial activity in Cebu City.

The business group extended its sympathies to those affected and acknowledged the rapid response by local disaster and emergency units, including the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the Philippine Red Cross, ERUF, and the Bureau of Fire Protection.

Yuvallos noted that the incident exposes structural weaknesses in Cebu’s waste management ecosystem—an issue with implications for environmental compliance, operational continuity, and long-term investment confidence.

Any prolonged instability at the landfill could affect collection schedules, increase compliance costs, and expose companies to reputational and regulatory risks.

CCCI urged companies to tighten internal waste management practices, including stricter segregation, recycling, and waste reduction at source, while ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.

The chamber also called on businesses to work more closely with local governments, environmental groups, and host communities to support safety and relief efforts.

“These actions are not only about corporate social responsibility,” Yuvallos said, “but about managing operational risk, protecting human capital, and ensuring business continuity.”

The chamber committed that it will continue to monitor developments and issue guidance to its members, positioning sustainability and community engagement as critical to maintaining Cebu’s attractiveness as a business and investment destination.