Three persons were reported missing in the collapse of a landfill in Rodriguez, Rizal last Friday, according to its local government.
Rodriguez municipal mayor Ronnie Evangelista said officials are currently monitoring the situation in cooperation with the private operator of the landfill.
"The Municipal Government of Rodriguez, through its MDRRMO and MENRO, based on its initial investigation as of this writing, reports that there were three (3) individuals missing," said Evangelista in a statement posted on social media.
"Our concerned offices are continuously working with the private operator of the landfill, ISWIMS, in monitoring the situation to discover the whereabouts of such persons and adequately address the situation."
The Rodriguez mayor also urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to conduct a probe into the incident "since this is a matter of national concern."
In a statement, the DENR said it is "closely monitoring" the incident.
Its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in CALABARZON has conducted an on-site investigation and ordered immediate stabilization operations following the trash slide, with personnel deployed to assess the extent of the erosion and to verify reports of missing individuals.
Earlier, an urban poor group claimed that about 50 people are feared missing in the collapse.
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.
Members of Kadamay and Bayan Muna held a candle-lighting activity in front of the landfill site on Saturday evvening, calling for urgent search and rescue operations.
"Gusto po natin na kalampagin ang barangay, ang LGU, na tumugon agad sa mabilisang pagrerescue. Search and rescue ang gawin. Napakasakit sa mga kapamilya ng mga nawawala hanggang ngayon," said Mimi Doringo, secretary general of Kadamay National.
The incident has reportedly affected close to 100 residents.
While there remains no official data on the incident, Kadamay Secretary-General Mimi Doringo said around 50 remain missing based on residents’ statements.
