In a statement issued on May 1, DENR-EMB 7 said the partial lifting was approved after PIWMI met key remediation and operational commitments, but warned that it remains conditional on continued compliance with environmental and safety requirements.
Lawyer John Edward Ang, regional director of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region VII,. said the company must continue complying with Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) requirements to prevent a repeat of the trash slide. He added that completing rehabilitation and stabilization work remains the top priority.
Deadly landslide
At least 36 workers lost their lives when the midsection of the landfill operated by PIWMI in Barangay Binaliw—a mountain village 17 km from Cebu City proper—collapsed on the afternoon of Jan. 8.
The DENR immediately ordered the landfill’s closure pending investigation, leaving the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue scrambling for alternative disposal sites for their garbage.
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival requested an additional P500 million from the city council to cover the hauling and disposal of garbage in Aloguinsan town, about 61 km southwest of Cebu City, since nearby disposal sites were unusable.
High fuel prices also worsened the cost of garbage disposal in the city.
Balance
In a statement, Ang explained that the decision to partially lift the CDO on the Binaliw landfill 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,” he said.
Because the lifting is conditional, Ang urged local officials to conduct regular monitoring and compliance checks to ensure the facility completes stabilization and site restoration work.
On March 31, the DENR-EMB 7 issued an amendment to the project’s ECC, allowing additional engineered components to strengthen operational safety.
These include the development of a new cell at the toe of the landfill (approximately 14,000 square meters with a capacity of 90,524 metric tons) and an interim cell (2,746 square meters with a capacity of 19,470.83 metric tons), among other enhancements.
Modifications
The DENR-EMB 7 also recognized the certification issued by the Cebu City government, expressing its consent to the proposed operational modifications and rehabilitation strategies needed for the facility’s recommissioning.
This was supported by the City Council through Resolution No. 17-2624-2026, according to the DENR-7 statement.
On Feb. 23, the city council sought the assistance of DENR-7 to expedite PIWMI’s compliance with rehabilitation requirements, enabling the safe resumption of operations under stricter environmental and safety protocols.
Director Ang assured the public that strict monitoring remains in place, reiterating the agency’s commitment to uphold environmental integrity while supporting sustainable waste management solutions for local communities.
“This office remains committed to closely monitoring the facility—particularly in terms of waste inputs and outputs. We conduct regular site inspections to ensure that stabilization measures meet required standards and that leachate is properly managed,” Ang said.
He also stressed the importance of multisectoral oversight.
“We will continue to engage other stakeholders, including local government units and nongovernment organizations, to actively participate in monitoring activities and help ensure full compliance and safety in all operations.” —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
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