Marilyn Cahatol

Piles of garbage remain outside a landfill in Barangay San Isidro in Rodriguez, Rizal. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Enhanced Community Quarantine against COVID-19

Eon Sanchez

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — About 50 people are feared missing after a portion of a landfill in Rodriguez, Rizal collapsed Friday, February 20, urban poor group Kadamay said.</p><p>The local government has declined to comment on the reported landfill collapse. </p><p>Kadamay said a portion of the Rizal Provincial Sanitary Landfill (RPSL), operated by private firm International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist, Inc. (ISWIMS), at Sitio 1B Harangan, Barangay San Isidro collapsed around 2 p.m. on Friday</p><p>The incident has reportedly affected close to 100 residents.</p><p>While there remains no official data on the incident, Kadamay Secretary-General Mimi Doringo said around 50 remain missing based on residents’ statements.</p><p>“Sa totoo lang, wala talaga kaming maayos na datos. Nag-aano lang kami dun sa sinasabing 50 dahil may mga tantsa ng mga kausap namin na may ganung karaming pamilya na nag-aabang pa ng update,” she said. </p><p>(We do not have proper data. That is an estimate based on the number of families waiting for updates on their loved ones)</p><p>Two minor siblings survived after being submerged in the mound of garbage for over an hour, Doringo said. </p><p>“Yung isa, hanggang bewang yung basura sa kanya. Yung isa, hanggang leeg. Mabuti na lang daw na nakita sila nung ibang mga tao,” she said. </p><p>(One was buried up to their waist while the other up to their neck. They were lucky to have been found)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/2/22/tinatayang-50-katao-nawawala-sa-pagguho-ng-landfill-sa-rodriguez-rizal-kadamay-1208">Tinatayang 50 katao nawawala sa pagguho ng landfill sa Rodriguez, Rizal — Kadamay</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>‘BRIBERY, THREAT TO LIVELIHOOD, COVER-UP’</strong></div><p>Kadamay said some families shared they were visited by a lawyer, who allegedly offered them money to not speak about the collapse. </p><p>“Iniisip nung mag-asawa, kung tatanggapin nila yung pera, parang tatabunan na lang yung buhay ng anak nila,” Doringo said. </p><p>(One couple said that if they accepted the money, it would be as if they just covered up their child&#x27;s life)</p><p>Residents also fear speaking about what happened due to threats to their livelihood, she added.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan – Rizal alleged that the landfill operator ISWIMS is blocking the media from covering the incident, adding that the police it claimed involved in the alleged cover-up are also patrolling the area.</p><p>The group said a resident scavenger, who supposedly secured and uploaded photos of the incident to social media, was visited by ISWIMS’ personnel and allegedly intimidated into deleting the post. </p><p>“[A]t sa kasalukuyan, hindi napoprotektahan ng batas ang tinakot na scavenger,” the group said. </p><p>(Currently, that scavenger has no legal protection)</p><p>They called on the local government to allow media and the residents to release information on the incident and to launch rescue and relief operations for those affected by the reported landslide.</p><p>“Maglunsad ng malalim at transparent na imbestigasyon, at panagutin ang mga responsable sa proyektong naglantad sa panganib ang buhay at kabuhayan ng mga mamamayan,” it said. </p><p>(Launch a thorough investigation and hold those responsible accountable)</p><div> </div><div><strong>NO RESPONSE YET FROM ISWIMS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>ISWIMS&#x27;s office was closed when ABS-CBN News&#x27; visited on Sunday morning. A landfill guard said there was no office work on weekends.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Rodriguez MDRRMO said it has visited the landfill but refused to make a statement, saying ISWIMS should comment instead.  </p><p>Barangay San Isidro said it has not yet received an official report on the issue from residents.</p><p>In 2013, a trash avalanche in the same landfill, operated by the same company, buried four landfill workers alive after two hours of non-stop heavy rain.</p><p>A <a href="https://pinoyweekly.org/2013/04/trahedya-ng-gumuguhong-bundok-ng-basura/">Pinoy Weekly report</a> said advocate group Protect Rizal also attributed the collapse to a nearby quarry blasting prior to the incident. </p><p>In 2008, the RPSL was temporarily shut down after it was found disposing leachate, a toxic liquid substance from the landfill, to the Montalban river. </p><p>At present, Kadamay said around 1,000 families depend on the landfill and are now facing a livelihood threat due to possible demolition. </p><p>The reported landfill collapse comes a little more than a month since a similar incident at Binaliw landfill in Cebu City in early January that left dozens dead.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YdeXqJvWgI0?si=neeMSPjOpvGRqpe8" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>bout 50 people are feared missing after a portion of a landfill in Rodriguez, Rizal collapsed Friday, February 20, urban poor group Kadamay said.</p>

bout 50 people are feared missing after a portion of a landfill in Rodriguez, Rizal collapsed Friday, February 20, urban poor group Kadamay said.

50 feared missing after reported landfill collapse in Rodriguez, Rizal

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50 feared missing after reported landfill collapse in Rodriguez, Rizal

Eon Sanchez,

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 22, 2026 01:46 PM PHT

Read More:

Rodriguez

Rizal

landfill

International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist

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