EMB-7 defends Binaliw landfill

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau Region VII (DENR EMB-7) has defended its decision to partially lift the cease and desist order (CDO) against the Binaliw landfill, following strong objections from some Cebu City councilors.

In a statement, EMB-7 Regional Director Atty. John Edward Ang said the agency’s move to allow the landfill’s partial reopening was meant to balance environmental safeguards with practical necessity.

“Cebu has an urgent need for a functional waste disposal facility to handle the city’s waste, and our decision followed a careful evaluation of the company’s compliance measures,” Ang said.

“We conduct regular site inspections to ensure that stabilization measures meet required standards and that leachate is properly managed,” he added.

EMB-7 vowed to continue engaging stakeholders, including local government units and non-government organizations, in monitoring activities to help ensure full compliance and operational safety.

The agency also assured the public of its commitment to upholding environmental integrity and supporting sustainable waste management solutions for local communities.

DENR EMB-7 cited specific technical grounds for its decision, noting that amendments to the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) approved in March required the construction of a new engineered landfill cell with a capacity of more than 90,000 metric tons, along with the designation of a smaller interim cell with a capacity of nearly 20,000 metric tons.

These modifications, the agency said, were intended to stabilize the site and prevent a repeat of the January 8 trash slide that killed 36 people.

The bureau emphasized that rehabilitation measures—including stabilization works and leachate management systems—have been implemented, with continuous monitoring in place.

However, the timing of the agency’s statement has drawn criticism.

During the Cebu City Council’s last executive session, councilors were caught off guard upon learning that Prime Integrated Waste Solutions had already resumed accepting waste from private firms using the interim cell.

Councilor Francis Esparis uncovered the development during questioning, while Councilor Joel Garganera pressed for clarification, warning that the interim cell is located beneath the portion of the landfill that collapsed.

Garganera told The Freeman that the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office has yet to receive a copy of the DENR-7 order. He also criticized the bureau’s statement as “too late,” saying it left the council blindsided.

The controversy is further shaped by the landfill’s troubled history.

Established in 2017 under ARN Central Waste Management, the Binaliw site quickly drew complaints from nearby residents over foul odor, health risks, and repeated violations of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

In 2023, Prime Integrated Waste Solutions took over operations, but violations persisted.

The January 2026 trash slide prompted DENR to impose a cease and desist order, halting operations while investigations and rehabilitation efforts were carried out.

By citing technical modifications and ongoing rehabilitation, DENR EMB-7 framed its decision as a balance between Cebu’s urgent waste disposal needs and the imperative to safeguard public safety.

Yet the council’s frustration highlights a deeper issue—the lack of timely communication between national regulators and local authorities.

For Cebu City, the landfill remains both a critical waste facility—especially as the city has been hauling garbage as far as Aloguinsan—and a symbol of unresolved risk. Its future now hinges on whether rehabilitation efforts and stricter oversight can restore public trust after one of the city’s deadliest environmental disasters. (FREEMAN)