Alegado slams DENR for failure to act on warnings over Binaliw

CEBU, Philippines —  Consolacion Mayor Teresa “Nene” Alegado sees the hand of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as a contributory factor in the failure of the Binaliw landfill in Cebu City, saying the agency ignored repeated warnings and failed to act until disaster struck.

Speaking after the trash slide that injured over a dozen and killed at least 36 workers, including those from her town, Alegado said in an interview that DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) had long been aware of complaints, including those from Barangay Panoypoy in Consolacion, where residents suffered from foul odor and health risks.

“Kanang DENR, dako pud kayo nag sala uy… Walay gibuhat ang EMB,” she declared, stressing that the agency is “answerable” over the tragic collapse that killed 36 facility workers.

She revealed that EMB officials even met privately with landfill operators and the barangay captain, but lamented that despite this, the EMB remained was left with inaction.

Her remarks echoed the frustration of Panoypoy Barangay Captain Ares Balaba, who earlier called for the landfill’s closure after years of unheeded complaints.

Alegado stressed that the tragedy was not unforeseen.

“Sa wa pa na nahitabo (Binaliw trash slide), ni reklamo na na ang kapitan sa barangay Panoypoy,” said Alegado.

Earlier, Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera, chairman of the environment committee of the Cebu City Council, also expressed his frustration, saying DENR’s seeming lapses stretch back to the Inayawan landfill closure.

“Sila gyud nakaingon sa tanan,” Garganera told colleagues during an executive session where councilors grilled DENR-EMB officials.

He noted that Binaliw’s Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) was amended in 2020 for five years, which reflects that operations should have ended in 2025.

Yet, the landfill continued operations into 2026, when the collapse occurred, and was only issued a cease-and-desist order after the trash slide.

The Cebu City Council’s executive session highlighted the growing distrust of DENR, with members lamenting the agency’s failure to provide clear answers on compliance and oversight.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival earlier said DENR helped search for alternative disposal sites, but Alegado contradicted this, saying no one from DENR coordinated with her office.

Alegado also recalled how DENR failed to resolve problems even during past disputes with Asian Energy, which operates a landfill in Barangay Polog, Consolacion.

“Even with sa akong previous problem with Asian Energy kaniadto, dili gyud sila kasulbad sa problema kay tingalon ra na sila,” Alegado said.

Some senators have called for a nationwide probe into landfill compliance, citing failures to enforce Republic Act 9003 and prevent hazardous operations, including those at the Binaliw landfill. (CEBU NEWS)