13/01/2026
READ | LGU, BFP, PNP, DILG, AND PARTNER AGENCIES SUSTAIN COORDINATED RESPONSE OPERATIONS AT BINALIW LANDFILL IN CEBU CITY
The Cebu City Government continues to lead coordinated response operations at the Binaliw Landfill in Cebu City, four days after the landfill collapse incident, as responders work to account for all affected individuals.
Ground operations involve close coordination among the local government, national agencies, local responders, and volunteer groups to ensure an organized, safe, and sustained response. Search, rescue, and retrieval efforts are being led by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Region VII through its Special Rescue Force, working alongside LGU responders and volunteers. Despite challenging conditions posed by unstable debris and site hazards, operations continue with strict adherence to established safety protocols.
As of January 12, 2026, 12:23 PM, the BFP reported that 12 individuals have been successfully rescued, while 67 others were safely evacuated from the area. Twelve individuals sustained injuries and are receiving appropriate medical attention. Twenty-eight individuals remain unaccounted for, while eight fatalities have been confirmed. Search, rescue, and retrieval operations remain ongoing, with responders maintaining a sustained presence on site and conducting systematic efforts to locate the remaining missing individuals, guided by safety protocols and close inter-agency coordination.
A total of 55 BFP personnel remain deployed on the ground, working closely with the Cebu City Government and partner responders. Operations continue to prioritize safety, accuracy, and the orderly conduct of response activities as efforts to locate the missing are sustained.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government continues to support the Cebu City Government through coordination, operational guidance, and inter-agency linkage to ensure that response efforts remain organized, accountable, and responsive to the needs of affected communities. In support of ground operations, DILG Cebu City facilitated the operationalization of the City Management of Dead and the Missing (MDM) Team at Ground Zero, composed of personnel from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, BFP, Philippine National Police, Cebu City Health Department, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the Department of Social Welfare and Services.
Security within the affected area is being maintained by the Cebu City Police Office, in coordination with the Regional Mobile Force Battalion, to ensure the safety of responders and support the uninterrupted conduct of search and rescue operations. Meanwhile, the Cebu City Forensic Unit conducted post mortem examinations of recovered bodies to ensure proper tagging and disaster victim identification, in accordance with established forensic and humanitarian protocols.
In line with the directives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ensure swift, coordinated, and accountable government action during emergencies, the Department remains closely engaged with the Cebu City Government and concerned agencies to support ongoing operations and provide timely public updates as the situation develops.
