Landfill Collapse in Rodriguez, Rizal: 3 Waste Workers Missing; Urban Poor Group Claims Dozens Trapped
A landfill in Rodriguez, Rizal partially collapsed on Friday, Feb. 20, leaving three waste workers missing. While authorities confirm three individuals missing, an urban poor group, Kadamay, claims over 50 people, mostly waste pickers, are believed to be buried under the garbage, urging immediate action. Search and retrieval operations are ongoing as environmental regulators enforce stabilization and safety measures.
A garbage pile collapse occurred at the privately owned Rizal Provincial Sanitary Landfill (also called Leap San Landfill) in Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal, on the afternoon of February 20, 2026. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) clarified that the incident was not a landslide or "trashslide" but rather the "opening/collapse of a massive garbage pile" ("pagbuka ng gabundok na basura"), as reported by Rodriguez's Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO). The landfill is operated by International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist Inc. (ISWIMS) or Green Leap Solid Waste Management Inc. in Sitio 1B, Harangan, Phase 5.
Authorities including the OCD, local government, and DENR confirm only three waste workers (scavengers) missing, refuting claims by urban poor group Kadamay of up to 50 dead or missing as unverified and inaccurate. Rodriguez Mayor Ronnie Evangelista confirmed the three individuals remain unaccounted for but declined to declare them dead without body recovery. The incident happened around 2-3 p.m. on Feb. 20 and was reported to OCD on Feb. 22.
Search and retrieval operations are ongoing by local disaster offices, ISWIMS, and authorities, with amateur videos showing people scrambling post-collapse. The DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Calabarzon conducted on-site inspection and ordered stabilization measures, including leveling and sloping eroded areas by the operator to prevent further instability. The local government is coordinating with the operator and has urged DENR investigation as a "national concern" while warning against unverified information.
The urban poor group Kadamay (Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap) alleged nearly 100 affected waste pickers, demanding rescue operations, investigation, and accountability. They also raised community demolition fears near the site, which is home to approximately 1,000 scavenging families. However, OCD has labeled these claims as "not accurate nor factual," and the local government has called them fake news. Landfill operations continue amid assessments, with no further casualties confirmed as of the latest reports on February 22.
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