Oversight & ethics enforcementPublic safety & negligenceEnvironment & land

Philippine environment department has not released findings on the Cebu landfill collapse that killed 36 people, as the site faces a possible reopening

Confidence: Confirmed · 4 sourcesPhilippines · Oct 12, 2026

Subject of this story

Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB)

Also named

Oversight

Senate of the Philippines

Advocate

Joel Garganera, Cebu City Councilor

Greenpeace Philippines

What happened

A garbage-slope collapse at the Binaliw sanitary landfill in Cebu City on January 8, 2026 killed 36 people (Greenpeace Philippines cites 39). Months later, no DENR investigation findings had been publicly released: environmental and labor groups demanded them in April 2026, and on about August 11, 2026 Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera called for the DENR investigation to be released before Binaliw fully reopens. The site partly resumed operations after a limited lifting of a cease-and-desist order. At a July 20, 2026 Senate hearing, DENR officials identified Binaliw among landfills needing urgent preventive measures, and senators questioned the Environmental Management Bureau's enforcement of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003).

Sources (4)

Cebu Daily News (Inquirer)EMB Director Michael Matias said at a 20 July 2026 Senate hearing that Binaliw remains in 'critical condition'; lapses cited include an inactive multi-stakeholder monitoring team and insufficient site inspections; EMB has yet to announce a directive for Binaliw.

Manila TimesCouncilor Joel Garganera called for the release of the DENR investigation into the 8 January landslide that killed 36 people before Binaliw is allowed to fully reopen.

Greenpeace PhilippinesNo official findings have been released, even though DENR Region 7 had earlier committed to regular public briefings.

SunStar CebuCebu City still awaiting DENR findings nearly a month after the Jan. 8 trash slide that killed 36 people.

Response

Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB)

On-record admission

Contacted and made an on-record admission — exact wording not on record.

What happened next (0)

No outcome recorded yet.

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