The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Thursday it is considering the possible suspension of the Davao City sanitary landfill in Barangay New Carmen, Tugbok, following a trash slide that killed one person, injured two others, and left two senior citizens missing.
The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) identified the fatality as Cristel, 31-year-old scavenger and a resident of Purok 8, Barangay New Carmen. The injured victims include a 16-year-old male and an adult female from the same community.
Search and rescue operations is still ongoing for two missing elderly residents, aged 78 and 67.
Authorities said 123 families or 374 individuals living near the landfill were evacuated and are currently staying at the barangay gymnasium as a precautionary measure.
DCPO’s initial findings pointed to water buildup beneath the waste mass, triggered by heavy rains, as a possible cause of the collapse. Waste disposal operations were later suspended after the City Engineer’s Office declared the area unsafe due to continuing ground instability.
DENR Secretary Juan Miguel T. Cuna said the agency has been closely coordinating with the local government on the landfill’s compliance with environmental and technical requirements.
“The DENR and EMB have been engaging the local government on compliance issues for several months, including technical meetings since January,” Cuna said, noting inspections and discussions held on Jan. 20 and March 4.
The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Davao Region has been monitoring the facility since earlier this year amid concerns over regulatory compliance, including permitting requirements.
IDIS calls for stronger waste management reforms
In a statement, the Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) emphasized that the tragedy highlights the growing pressure on landfill systems due to increasing waste volumes.
“This incident reflects the challenges of the increasing volume of waste generated and disposed of in our landfills every day. It underscores the importance of a strong integrated waste management system that prioritizes waste reduction, segregation at source, recycling, composting, and responsible disposal to prevent similar incidents,” it added.
IDIS also underscored the risks faced by informal waste workers, who often operate in hazardous conditions.
“Waste pickers and other informal workers play a significant role in waste recovery and recycling, but many continue to work under unsafe and vulnerable conditions,” the group said.
The group also called for “proper protection, safer working environments, recognition, and access to social protection and livelihood support.”
The organization stressed that waste management goes beyond environmental concerns.
“Beyond being an environmental issue, waste management is also a matter of public safety, human dignity, and social justice,” IDIS said.
