Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Annie Perez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17683514092431768179144410AFP__20260111__92BJ9WF__v1__MidRes__PhilippinesLandslideAccident_cropped_processed_by_imagy.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of the search and rescue team look for people after a landslide at the landfill in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City on January 11, 2026. Hard hat-wearing rescue workers and backhoes dug through rubble in search of survivors in the shadow of a mountain of garbage that buried dozens of landfill employees in the central Philippines. <em>Cheryl Baldicantos, AFP</em><br/></span></span></span></div><p>CEBU CITY (<strong>UPDATED</strong>)— The Cebu City council has declared January 16, 2026 as a day of mourning for the victims of the Binaliw landfill landslide, as its death toll rose to 19 on Wednesday. </p><p>The latest fatality was a 40-year-old man, Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak said. </p><p>Seventeen others remained missing. Fifty-two personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection are deployed at the site to continue the rescue operations.</p><p>&quot;It is possible that we can get many now since we already removed the debris slowly,&quot; said Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak in Cebuano.</p><p>A day of mourning for the disaster&#x27;s victims was approved through a corollary motion of Councilor Jun Alcover to the resolution on the declaration of the state of calamity of the city.</p><p>“This in solemn recognition of the tragic landslide incident that occurred in Barangay Binaliw which claimed lives that cost immeasurable grief,” said Alcover during the regular council session.</p><p>During the day of mourning, a mass will be held at the Barangay Binaliw Gym.</p><p>“We are extending solidarity during this time of profound loss,” added Alcover.</p><p>Tumulak said that they still remained in rescue mode.</p><p>With the declaration of the state of the calamity, P30 million will be released through the quick response fund to pay for garbage disposal services.</p><p>Cebu City is now negotiating with the towns of Consolacion and Minglanilla to temporarily use their landfill.</p><p>The city generates more or less a hundred tons of garbage daily.</p><p>Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc., operator of the Binaliw landfill, said the garbage collapse was likely triggered by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake in September 2025, its aftershocks, and extreme rainfall from Typhoon Tino, based on the initial assessment of city officials and experts. </p><p>“PWS Cebu conducts regular inspections of its landfill cells, and prior to the Thursday incident, the affected cell did not bear any visual signs of weakening, such as cracks and irregular leachate outflows. We are actively working with experts and authorities for a comprehensive investigation,” the firm said. </p><p>It added that the incident was “fully contained within the footprint of the Binaliw facility and does not involve surrounding communities.” </p><p>The company said it provided financial assistance and psychosocial services to the families of affected employees, covered medical expenses for the injured, and shouldered funeral and burial costs.</p><p>“PWS Cebu is committed to implementing critical site measures, including clearing the Materials Recovery Facility building to allow the safe removal of debris, rehabilitating the affected landfill cell to restore stability, and capping and closing the impacted area. The company is fully complying with the cease-and-desist order issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),” it said. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WASTE TO ENERGY</strong></div><p><strong></strong>Meanwhile, Committee on Environment Chairman Councilor Joel Garganera wants the city to revisit the plan to build a waste-to-energy (WTE) facility to help solve the city’s garbage woes. </p><p>&quot;It will help us transition to better, and more sustainable waste disposal practices,&quot; said Garganera.</p><p>He added that there are already WTE guidelines by agencies such as the DENR, DOE, and DOST.</p><p>As of now, the city will dump close to 600 tons to alternative landfills in Consolacion and Minglanilla.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9M96X82qpd8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The Cebu City council has declared January 16, 2026, Friday, as a day of mourning for the victims of the Binaliw landfill landslide.</p>

The Cebu City council has declared January 16, 2026, Friday, as a day of mourning for the victims of the Binaliw landfill landslide.

Cebu City declares day of mourning for Binaliw landslide victims as death toll hits 19

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Cebu City declares day of mourning for Binaliw landslide victims as death toll hits 19

Annie Perez,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 14, 2026 08:44 AM PHT

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Updated January 14, 2026 05:15 PM PHT

Read More:

Cebu City

Binaliw

landfill

tragedy

mourning

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