The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) fully lifted its cease and desist order on the Binaliw landfill following a deadly collapse on Jan. 8 that killed 36 workers and one volunteer rescuer.
Cebu City cannot dump garbage at the facility yet because it must first complete a formal public bidding process and award a valid contract, as confirmed by Kenneth Siasar, chief of staff to Mayor Nestor Archival, on Monday, Aug. 24, 2026.
Even with the order lifted, the facility is restricted to a maximum of 500 metric tons of residual waste per day, creating a daily shortfall for Cebu City, which produces between 600 and 700 tons of garbage daily.
THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has fully lifted its cease and desist order on the Binaliw landfill, but Cebu City still cannot dump its trash at the facility. Before garbage trucks can head back to the site, the City must first complete a formal public bidding process and award a valid contract.
The lifting of the order removes a major environmental restriction that halted operations at the landfill following a deadly collapse on Jan. 8, which killed 36 workers and one volunteer rescuer. However, city officials emphasize that public funds cannot be spent on waste disposal at Binaliw until all government procurement requirements are met.
In an Aug. 13 letter to Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc. (PWS) general manager Arsenio Abellana Jr., Environmental Management Bureau 7 Director John Edward Ang confirmed that the company met its environmental compliance certificate conditions and rehabilitation targets. Even with the order lifted, PWS must still follow strict environmental guidelines to operate safely.
The facility is currently restricted to accepting a maximum of 500 metric tons of residual waste per day, confined strictly to its toe and interim cells. PWS must also maintain a proper buffer zone, operate high-definition CCTV cameras across strategic locations, and submit plans within 15 days to handle the impacts of the upcoming El NiƱo weather phenomenon.
Even if the City successfully signs a new deal with PWS, Binaliw's current cap will not cover all of Cebu City's waste. The city produces between 600 and 700 tons of garbage every day, creating a daily shortfall of at least 100 tons.
Kenneth Siasar, chief of staff to Mayor Nestor Archival, explained Monday, Aug. 24, that the City has already conducted three bidding rounds for the disposal contract since May. PWS joined the first round but was disqualified during post-qualification due to documentation issues, and it did not participate in the next two rounds. With environmental clearances now restored, city officials hope PWS will join the upcoming procurement round.
While procurement moves forward, Cebu City continues to process its daily trash through a temporary transfer station at the former Cebu City Quarantine Center site in Block 27. City trucks drop off collected waste at the facility, where it is loaded onto larger haulers starting around 8 p.m. each evening.
Siasar noted that while queues of trucks may form during peak evening hours due to high garbage volume, crews work through the night to clear the site completely before 6 a.m. or 7 a.m. every morning.
City Hall is aiming to return to the Binaliw landfill before the end of the year, but the exact timeline depends on the next bidding cycle. To resume dumping operations at the site, PWS must participate in the new bidding process, submit a compliant offer, pass post-qualification checks, and secure an official contract award from Cebu City. CAV