Metro Manila, Philippines – Cebu City councilors approved on Tuesday, Jan. 13, a resolution to declare a state of calamity in the aftermath of the deadly garbage landslide at the Binaliw landfill.
They authorized the spending of P30 million from disaster response funds for waste disposal services to address the disruption.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources issued a cease and desist order against the landfill operator, Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, Inc. (PIWSI), on Monday.
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival said the local government has been in talks with other local governments to access sanitary landfills.
During the council’s session, Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said the local social welfare office has enough funds to compensate surviving families.
Local media said the death toll rose to 12 on Tuesday afternoon, with authorities continuing search and rescue efforts for 24 others.
Meanwhile, the local disaster management office also recommended the declaration of a calamity state after a massive fire hit homes in Barangay Tejero at the weekend.
