𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐑 𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐃𝐒 𝐆𝐎𝐕. 𝐏𝐀𝐌’𝐒 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄-𝐖𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍
Officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has praised Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro’s province-wide cleanliness and waste management initiative, calling it a “positive development” for Cebu.
This was expressed by DENR Assistant Secretary Norlito Eneran during a visit on February 5 at the Capitol, which was its final stop in its wide-ranging probe on the collapse of the Binaliw Sanitary Landfill in Cebu City.
On January 12, Gov. Baricuatro signed Executive Order No. 3, Series of 2026, institutionalizing the Provincial Cleanliness and Waste Management Plan as the official framework for sanitation, waste reduction, segregation, recycling, and composting across Cebu. The order also established the Provincial Solid Waste Management Board, chaired by the governor, to oversee its implementation.
During the meeting, Provincial Administrator Atty. Ace Durano and Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces, together with department heads, inquired about the agency’s fact-finding investigation, the current status of the Binaliw Landfill, and the solid waste management programs of both Cebu City and the province.
The fact-finding mission assessed the condition of affected victims, the financial assistance provided to their families, and the operations of Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, the private operator of the landfill.
Asec Eneran said they will submit their reports to DENR Secretary Raphael Lotilla not later this month, which may result in the filing of appropriate charges against responsible individuals, depending on its outcome.
Atty. Durano said Governor Baricuatro’s Executive Order No. 3 provides a province-wide framework for sanitation, waste reduction, segregation, recycling, and composting, and ensures coordinated implementation across households, businesses, schools, and tourism establishments in the province.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office Chief Rodel Bontuyan said Cebu’s solid waste plan was last reviewed in 2018 under former Governor Hilario Davide III, but was not prioritized during the past six years. This resulted in limited technical assistance for inter-local government cooperation.
DENR officials expressed optimism over the new provincial plan, describing it as a positive development that could benefit from technical support to align Cebu’s solid waste roadmap with actual local needs. They also expressed hope to be included in the technical planning to ensure that the solid waste strategy addresses Cebu’s real-world requirements. | CAPITOL PIO
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