Prime Waste Solutions (PWS) Cebu, the operator of the sanitary landfill facility in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City expressed sympathy to the families of its employees for the tragic trash slide on January 8, 2026.
As of Thursday, January 15, 2026, the death toll rose to 22. Missing persons are at 14, according to the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
“PWS Cebu shares in the grief of the families and loved ones affected by the incident at the Binaliw facility. The incident has had a profound impact on the community, and our thoughts remain with all those affected,” Prime Waste Solutions Cebu said in a statement issued on January 14, 2026.
The company mentioned that its Emergency Response Team (ERT), activated immediately following the incident, together with the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), other national response units, and private sector partners.
“Based on the initial assessment of city officials and experts, the incident was likely triggered by a combination of seismic evens and frequent rains, including the magnitude 6.9 earthquake on September 30, 2025 and subsequent aftershocks, followed by extreme rainfall from Typhoon Tino in early November,” Prime Waste Solutions, Cebu added.
The company cited that it conducts regular inspections of its landfill cells, and that prior to the January 8 incident, the “affected cell did not bear any visual signs of weakening, such as cracks and irregular leachate outflows.”
“We are actively working with experts and authorities for a comprehensive investigation,” it added.
Operations at the Binaliw facility remain suspended as retrieval efforts continue, the company also said.
Further, the company said it has “provided financial assistance and psychosocial services to the families of affected employees, covered medical expenses for the injured, and shouldered funeral and burial costs.”
“PWS Cebu is 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 is fully complying with the cease-and-desist order issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),” the company stated further.
CEASE-AND-DESIST ORDER
In a statement issued on January 12, DENR expressed its deepest sympathy to the families affected by the trash slide incident.
Here is DENR's statement in full:
“The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Central Visayas expresses its deepest sympathies to the families affected by the tragic trash slide incident at the Binaliw Sanitary Landfill on January 8, 2026.
“The Department is committed to a thorough, impartial, and evidence‑based investigation to determine the causes of the incident, the responsibilities and accountabilities of the relevant parties, and the changes needed moving forward.
“Following the findings of DENR‑EMB Region VII technical personnel during their site inspection on 9 January 2026, the Regional Office has issued an immediate Cease‑and‑Desist Order (CDO) to Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, Inc. (PIWSI), formerly ARN Central Waste Management, Inc. The CDO was issued pursuant to EMB Memorandum Circular 2007‑002, which authorizes the EMB Regional Director to order the stoppage of operations when grave or irreparable environmental damage is imminent.
“The CDO directs the facility to cease all sanitary landfill operations, including the acceptance of waste, except for rescue, retrieval, and cleanup operations in coordination with concerned agencies. PIWSI has also been called to a Technical Conference to establish facts and execute a compliance commitment within a period not exceeding 90 days.
“The DENR is coordinating closely with the concerned LGUs in accordance with the mandate vested in them under Republic Act 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000)and the Local Government Code of 1991, local government units (LGUs) over solid waste management within their jurisdictions. This includes waste collection, disposal, monito ring of facilities, and enforcement of local environmental ordinances. LGUs are also required to prepare and submit a 10‑year Solid Waste Management Plan to the National Solid Waste Management Commission.
“The DENR will work with them to determine the status of their required Solid Waste Management Plan and the oversight measures implemented. The DENR remains committed to transparency, due process, and collaboration with LGUs, communities, and stakeholders. Our priority is to ensure environmental safety, prevent further risks to life and property, and strengthen long‑term compliance with environmental laws.””””””
