The directive stemmed from the garbage crisis faced by the city following the closure of the privately-run landfill that collapsed last week which killed at least 13 people and more than 20 others still missing.
In a statement, Lotilla ordered the DENR-7 to develop alternative, long-term solid waste management options for Cebu including revisiting policy on design of sanitary landfill and relevant policies on environmental safeguards and reviewing local government solid waste management plans to address system-wide capacity and resilience challenges.
Immediate action ordered
“Solid waste management is a combination of environmental, engineering and governance challenges that demands comprehensive, long-term, and equitable solutions,” said Lotilla.
The DENR has earlier issued a cease-and-desist order against Prime Integrated Waste Solution Inc. (PIWSI), operator of the landfill in Barangay Binaliw in Cebu City, following the landslide last Jan. 8.
Facing the problem of where to dispose of Cebu City’s 600 tons of daily waste following the landfill’s closure, Lotilla said the DENR will closely monitor and facilitate the identification and operation of alternative disposal sites for Cebu City and neighboring local government units (LGUs).
He added that these measures aim to ensure uninterrupted waste collection and protect public health in the short term, while composite technical teams conduct rapid site assessments of proposed alternative disposal facilities.
What happens next
With coordination with the DENR, the Consolacion municipal government has allowed the Cebu City government to use a private landfill in the municipality but only for 30 days.
The problem, however, was where would Cebu City throw their garbage once the month is over.
Lotilla said the DENR-7 must work with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and provincial and city officials, to remove administrative or operational barriers for alternative disposal arrangements and to facilitate the use of transfer stations and interim waste handling measures.
At the same time, DENR-7, EMB-7, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Central Visayas, and PIWSI are directed to conduct a rapid appraisal of the landfill.
Engineering risks assessed
The assessment will cover waste pile stability, drainage conditions, and site-specific geotechnical risks, and will guide engineering measures under the Environmental Management Plan and the formulation of a rehabilitation plan.
The DENR-7 was also ordered to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the sanitary landfill facility to identify structural and operational deficiencies.
The assessment will provide recommendations for reconstruction and safer operations, including the evaluation of slope stability, leachate management systems, and compliance with the approved landfill design and safeguards.
Risk factors examined
Technical teams from the EMB-7 and MGB-7 have been deployed to the Binaliw landfill to conduct site assessments, geotechnical reviews, and operational audits.
These activities aim to identify corrective measures and long-term facility design improvements, including science-based evaluations of potential secondary risks arising from rainfall and other natural factors.
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival earlier said the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu on Sept. 30, along with heavy rains brought by Typhoon “Tino” on Nov. 4, may have compromised the landfill’s foundation and caused it to give way.
He noted that the earthquake may have “altered” the landfill’s foundation, which was further weakened by Typhoon Tino’s heavy rains, as garbage absorbed water “like a sponge.” —Connie Fernandez-Brojan | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
