DENR-7 said in a Jan. 12 Facebook post that it ordered Prime Integrated Waste Solution Inc. (PIWSI) to halt all landfill operations except rescue, retrieval, and cleanup.
The PIWSI was also called to a technical conference “to establish facts and submit a compliance plan within 90 days.”
DENR seeks accountability
DENR-7 conveyed its “deepest sympathies” to the affected families and said it is committed to a comprehensive and impartial probe to determine the cause of the tragedy and accountability.
The agency said it was coordinating with the Cebu City government in line with their mandate under Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, and the Local Government Code, which cover waste collection, disposal, facility monitoring, and the submission of a 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan.
“We are working with them to review oversight measures and ensure full compliance,” the statement read.
Earthquake, rains blamed
At least eight people were killed while 28 remained missing after a portion of the landfill collapsed in the mountain village of Binaliw, about 16 km from the city proper. Eighteen were reported hurt.
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival told a news conference on Monday that the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu on Sept. 30, along with heavy rains brought by Typhoon “Tino” on Nov. 4, may have weakened the landfill’s foundation and caused it to give way.
He pointed out that the foundation, already shaken by the earthquake, may have further weakened by the heavy rains since garbage soaked water “like a sponge.”
He, however, said he would leave it to the DENR to conduct an investigation.
Race against time
Search and rescue operations would continue, especially that there are still some signs of life underneath debris, until the team decides otherwise, the mayor said.
Rescue operations were initially hampered by lack of equipment but two cranes arrived on Monday which hastened the operations.
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