The Cebu City government is continuing to evaluate its plan to resume using the Binaliw landfill, as it works to meet environmental and technical requirements before waste disposal can restart at the facility.
Task Force Inspection
Mayor Nestor Archival confirmed that members of the newly formed Solid Waste Crisis Task Force have been deployed to inspect the landfill and verify whether the opened section complies with conditions set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7.
The task force, created under an executive order declaring a State of Solid Waste Management Emergency in Cebu City, includes representatives from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, City Legal Office, City Health Office, technical personnel, and other agencies responsible for validating the safety and operational readiness of the facility.
Review of Requirements
According to Archival, the group is tasked with reviewing the requirements imposed by the DENR, examining documents submitted by the landfill operator, and determining whether the opened area is different from the section affected by the trashslide on January 8.
"They will check what requirements were set by the DENR and what documents were submitted. They will also inspect the actual area being opened, whether it is the same area that experienced the landslide in January or a different cell," Archival said.
He explained that the City Government wants to ensure the opened area is safe and suitable for use before making a final decision.
"If it is not appropriate for us to use, then we will have to find another alternative, and possibly return to Aloguinsan," he added.
Cost Concerns
Archival noted that continuing to haul waste to Aloguinsan significantly increases the city's expenses, which he estimates at PHP 2 million per day for hauling and disposal.
He also confirmed that the DENR has set conditions before allowing the partial reopening of the landfill, including stricter enforcement of waste segregation.
According to Archival, only segregated waste will be accepted at the facility, prompting the city to intensify its campaign encouraging barangays to practice proper segregation before disposal.
"That is one of the situations they are looking at. If that is the case, we will really have to force the barangays to comply with segregation or else they may not be allowed to dump there," he said.
The mayor clarified that although the city initially aimed to immediately resume dumping waste at Binaliw after its contract with Aloguinsan ended, the plan was temporarily halted due to questions and concerns raised by various sectors, including some members of the City Council.
