Residents living near the sanitary landfill in Barangay New Carmen, Davao City are now facing uncertainty over whether they can return to their homes and continue earning a living after part of the landfill collapsed on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.
The tragedy claimed the life of a 31-year-old man, injured two others, and left two elderly women missing.
Following the collapse, authorities ordered the evacuation of families in Purok 8 after massive piles of garbage slid downhill and buried several houses and residents.
Police have since sealed off the area while search and retrieval operations continue for the missing individuals.
For many residents, the disaster has also threatened their only source of income. Several families have started selling their livestock, including pigs, amid fears they may no longer be allowed to stay in the area.
“Diri naman gud nagakuha og pagkaon nila unya karon ing-ani basin di nami pakahigon diri ba. So, ibaligya nalang gyud namo ni para makwartahan pagyud ba kaysa matabunan gyud. Sayangan gyud pero okay nalang kay wala man tay mahimo kay nahitabo naman gyud ni,” said affected resident Rene Ocoy.
Another resident, Marceline Alfeche, said the family was forced to sell what they could because they had no savings and were already struggling financially.
“Napugos nalang ko kay kaning hitaboa wala gyud mi kwarta naipon ani diri, masakiton pud kong dako unya akong bana dili napud katrabaho. Mao ni nga amo nalang ipugos unya naa man mi run sa brgy unya problema lagi mi dili man pud magdugay ani run og asa mi karon padulong ani,” Alfeche said.
Residents also rushed to gather their belongings, including recyclable garbage they had collected, worried that they may no longer be permitted to return to the landfill area.
Many families depend on scavenging as their primary means of livelihood, and a permanent restriction would leave them without income.
In the meantime, displaced residents have been temporarily sheltered at the barangay gymnasium, where tents were set up for evacuees.
