DAVAO CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) Region XI has ordered the permanent closure of the old Davao City Sanitary Landfill in Barangay New Carmen, Tugbok District, more than a month after a deadly trash-slide claimed lives, injured residents, and exposed serious violations of environmental and waste management regulations.
In a press release issued Friday, June 19, DENR-EMB XI announced that all dumping operations at the existing landfill have officially ceased following the expiration of a temporary extension granted to the Davao City government.
The closure comes in the wake of the May 20 landfill collapse that killed at least two people, left several others injured, and forced the evacuation of more than 100 families living near the dumpsite.
DENR-EMB XI Regional Director Engr. Alnulfo M. Alvarez and DENR Regional Executive Director Atty. Ma. Mercedes V. Dumagan signed the final closure order on June 17, directing the Davao City local government unit (LGU) to immediately halt all waste disposal activities at the old facility and submit a draft Safe Closure and Rehabilitation Plan within 30 days.
Under the order, only mitigation, rehabilitation, and site restoration activities will be allowed at the landfill moving forward.
Deadly Collapse Prompted Government Action
The closure stems directly from the tragic trash-slide incident that occurred on May 20 at the New Carmen Sanitary Landfill after days of continuous heavy rainfall.
Authorities said a massive section of the garbage mound suddenly collapsed at around 1:15 p.m., burying nearby structures occupied by scavengers and residents living close to the landfill.
The disaster claimed the life of a scavenger identified as Cristel and initially left two elderly women missing beneath tons of garbage. Two other individuals, including a 16-year-old boy, sustained injuries during the collapse.
Investigators attributed the incident to water accumulation beneath the landfill caused by prolonged rainfall, resulting in what experts described as a “mass wasting” event that destabilized the garbage mountain.
The tragedy prompted an immediate suspension of landfill operations on May 21 and triggered extensive investigations by environmental regulators and city authorities.
Violations of Environmental Laws Cited
According to DENR-EMB XI, inspections conducted after the incident revealed multiple violations of Republic Act No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, as well as DENR Administrative Order No. 10 governing sanitary landfill operations.
The agency specifically cited violations involving operational and management requirements under the law’s implementing rules and regulations.
Environmental authorities concluded that continued dumping at the site posed significant risks to public safety, environmental protection, and surrounding communities.
Despite the suspension, DENR granted the city government a temporary window to continue limited waste disposal operations until June 16 to prevent a city-wide garbage crisis while alternative arrangements were being prepared.
Waste Disposal Shifted to New Interim Cell
To ensure uninterrupted garbage collection and disposal services across Davao City, DENR-EMB XI confirmed that waste operations are now being transferred to a newly completed interim cell located within the city’s new sanitary landfill facility.
The agency said the interim cell became fully operational and structurally ready to receive waste as of June 18.
Officials emphasized that the transition is intended to prevent the accumulation of garbage throughout the city while ensuring compliance with environmental standards.
“The old landfill will strictly undergo safe closure and rehabilitation,” DENR-EMB XI stated.
The bureau added that it will continue closely monitoring the Davao City government’s compliance with rehabilitation requirements and environmental regulations.
Long-Standing Waste Management Concerns
The landfill tragedy reignited concerns about Davao City’s waste management system and the safety of informal waste workers who rely on scavenging for survival.
Following the collapse, environmental advocacy group Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) called for stronger waste reduction measures and a more sustainable solid waste management program.
The group stressed that the disaster highlighted the dangers faced by waste pickers and underscored the need for improved waste segregation, recycling, composting, and responsible disposal practices.
Environmental advocates also pointed out that waste management is not merely an environmental issue but one involving public safety, human dignity, and social justice.
Rehabilitation Phase Begins
With the old landfill now permanently closed, DENR-EMB XI is requiring the city government to implement a comprehensive rehabilitation program aimed at stabilizing the site, preventing future environmental hazards, and ensuring the long-term safety of nearby communities.
The agency said the rehabilitation plan will serve as the blueprint for the landfill’s safe closure and eventual restoration.
As Davao City transitions to its new waste disposal facility, authorities hope the lessons from the New Carmen landfill tragedy will lead to stronger environmental safeguards and prevent similar disasters from occurring in the future.
The permanent shutdown marks a significant turning point in the city’s waste management operations and represents one of the most consequential environmental regulatory actions taken in Davao Region in recent years following a disaster that claimed lives and exposed vulnerabilities in landfill management.