President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. attends the naming and delivery ceremony of Hull No. SC443, an 81,200-metric-ton dual-fuel methanol-powered KAMSARMAX bulk carrier built by Tsuneishi Group Corporation, in Balamban, Cebu on January 15, 2026. – Screen grabbed from RTVM livestream.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday paused an official event in Cebu to honor those killed in the deadly landfill collapse in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City.
Speaking during a ship delivery ceremony in Balamban, Marcos called for a moment of silence to remember the victims of the Jan. 8 incident.
He said prayers were being offered for those who died and for the families enduring grief as search and recovery operations continue.
The president assured the public that the national government is pursuing safety, transparency, accountability, and compassionate assistance in responding to the tragedy.
Marcos added that burial aid and other forms of government support are being extended to affected families.
Authorities have reported that the death toll has climbed to 20, with rescue teams facing hazardous conditions at the site due to debris and contaminated waste.
Initial findings have pointed to a combination of past earthquakes, subsequent aftershocks, and heavy rains from Tropical Cyclone Tino as possible factors behind the collapse.