Cebu landfill operator Prime Waste Solutions Cebu (PWS) expressed sympathy for the families and loved ones affected by the Jan. 8 incident at its Binaliw facility, saying the tragedy has had a deep impact on the community as retrieval and recovery efforts continue.
The company said its emergency response team was activated immediately and is working with the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the Bureau of Fire Protection, national response units and private sector partners. Intensive retrieval operations are ongoing, with strict measures in place to ensure the safety of responders.
Initial assessments by city officials and experts indicate the incident was likely triggered by a combination of seismic activity and prolonged heavy rains. This includes a magnitude 6.9 earthquake on Sept. 30, 2025, and its aftershocks, followed by extreme rainfall from Typhoon Tino in early November.
PWS Cebu said it conducts regular inspections of its landfill cells and that, prior to the incident, the affected cell showed no visible signs of weakening, such as cracks or irregular leachate outflows. A comprehensive investigation is underway in coordination with authorities and independent experts.
Operations at the Binaliw facility remain suspended. The company stressed that the incident is fully contained within the facility’s footprint and did not affect surrounding communities.
PWS Cebu said it has provided financial assistance and psychosocial support to the families of affected employees, covered medical expenses for the injured, and shouldered funeral and burial costs.
It also 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 said it is fully complying with a cease-and-desist order issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Employee safety remains a priority, with health and safety measures in place that meet or exceed industry standards.
Since acquiring the previously underdeveloped site in 2023, PWS Cebu said it has invested in transforming the facility into an advanced materials recovery hub, introducing improved waste sorting and recycling systems and strengthening leachate and effluent management.
PWS Cebu added that the Jan. 8 incident does not diminish its long-term commitment to professionalizing waste management and maximizing resource recovery, even as it remains focused on supporting affected families and the wider community.
