The Philippine National Waste Workers Alliance (PNWWA) has called for accountability and systemic reform following a deadly landfill garbage slide in Cebu City.
The group described it as a preventable tragedy caused by long-standing failures in waste management.
“We are praying for the swift recovery of the injured and for the safe rescue of those still missing,” the group said in a statement, adding that it stands with affected waste workers and communities “in mourning and in the call for justice.”
Temporary tents have been set up near the landfill to accommodate families seeking updates on missing relatives, as search and recovery operations continue. Authorities said the site has become a waiting area for families relying on official briefings.
As of the latest report, 18 people remain hospitalized due to injuries sustained in the incident. Eleven individuals are still missing, while 25 fatalities have been recorded.
PNWWA said the landfill slide should not be treated as an accident or a natural disaster, describing it instead as a foreseeable outcome of prolonged neglect and systemic failures in solid waste management.
The alliance cited continued reliance on unsafe, over-capacity, and poorly managed landfills, saying waste workers had repeatedly warned of “the danger of collapse, exposure to toxic waste, and the lack of adequate safety measures.”
It added that in such incidents, “waste workers are the first to be placed at risk and often become silent victims.”
PNWWA called for “a full, transparent, and independent investigation into the cause of the landfill slide,” and urged authorities to hold accountable those responsible, “from operators to regulatory agencies.”
It also pressed for “immediate and adequate assistance and compensation for affected families,” including medical, psychosocial, and livelihood support.
The group reiterated its demand for strict enforcement of Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, particularly provisions on waste reduction, segregation at source, recycling, and composting.
“The continued failure to implement this law is the reason for the dangerous buildup of waste in landfills,” PNWWA said.
