Cebu groups call for criminal liability a month after landfill collapse

By MARJUICE DESTINADO

A month after a landfill collapse in Barangay Binaliw claimed the lives of 36 workers, progressive groups in Cebu said that no genuine accountability has been established, pointing to what they described as systemic failures.

At a press conference on Monday, February 9, they said that the disaster was preventable and directly linked to corporate negligence by PrimeWaste Solutions Inc., as well as regulatory failures by the Cebu City local government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). They said that weak oversight and the lack of strict occupational safety and environmental enforcement created the conditions that led to the deadly landslide.

The groups criticized government actions after the incident as superficial, stressing that responses have been limited to public announcements and site inspections instead of establishing independent fact-finding and accountability mechanisms. 

They also denounced reported moves to resume landfill operations, warning that reopening the site without resolving safety violations reflects a return to “business as usual” that endangers workers and nearby communities.

According to the organizations, justice for the victims goes beyond relief assistance and requires criminal liability, adequate compensation, and long-term support for the families of those killed. They said that responsibility rests not only with the private operator but also with government agencies mandated to protect workers, the environment, and the public.

The groups said they will continue to press for transparent investigations and systemic reforms in waste management and regulatory enforcement, asserting that compassion without accountability fails to address the root causes of the tragedy. (AMU, DAA) 

Photos by Marjuice Destinado/Bulatlat

The post Cebu groups call for criminal liability a month after landfill collapse appeared first on Bulatlat.