SunStar Cebu

A SENATE inquiry into the January trash slide at the Binaliw sanitary landfill in Cebu City, which killed 36 people, shifted the spotlight Monday, July 20, 2026, onto systemic failures in the country’s waste management framework and long-standing regulatory lapses.

THE Cebu Provincial Government has allocated P10 million for road improvement projects in the town of San Francisco on Camotes Island. Gov. Pamela Baricuatro announced the funding during her visit to the town on Monday, July 20, 2026. The Provincial Government also released P250,000 to Barangay Himensulan for community activities and the purchase of tents, P50,000 to Barangay San Isidro for tables, and P150,000 to Barangay Cabonga-an for community activities.

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government has mandated the immediate implementation of cultural mapping across all local government units (LGUs) following the controversial cutting of 10 historical trees in Oslob’s public plaza. The directive, issued via a memorandum, orders all LGUs to comply strictly with the guidelines set by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts to align urban progress with heritage preservation.

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) will study a proposal from the Office of the Ombudsman to amend the rules governing the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for those seeking public office. The proposal would require candidates to declare under oath that they have no conflict of interest. Candidates found guilty of making false declarations could face disqualification.

ADDITIONAL heavy equipment has been deployed to the drainage project along Jorge Tampus Road in Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City, as work continues following complaints over traffic congestion and slow progress. Lapu-Lapu Lone District Rep. Junard “Ahong” Chan said in a recorded video on Sunday, July 19, 2026, that project contractor GT Construction had assigned two backhoes to the site.

THE “Basura Namo, Kaugmaon Nato,” a school-based diversion program that empowers students to practice proper waste disposal by collecting household and school waste in eco-bottles, was launched at Lahug National High School (Night) on Monday, July 20, 2026.

CEBU communities are expected to receive more targeted government assistance and better-planned development projects after Gov. Pamela Baricuatro created a new body to oversee the use of local data in policymaking. Baricuatro signed Executive Order (EO) 37, creating the Provincial Community-Based Monitoring System Coordinating Board to ensure accurate local data guides government decisions.

POLICE have identified a sixth suspect in the killing of American marine biologist Dr. Kent Carpenter, saying the case is considered “solved” under Philippine National Police (PNP) standards even as two suspects remain at large. PNP spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co said Monday, July 20, 2026, investigators have linked the brother of fugitive suspect alias “Eden” to the July 12 robbery-slay of the 73-year-old scientist at his home in Barangay Ajong, Sibulan, Negros Oriental.

A CEBU City councilor seeks a legal review of traditional game fowl activities after about 50 people were arrested for alleged illegal gambling despite organizers reportedly obtaining a city permit. Councilor Alvin Arcilla, in a proposed resolution, asked the City Council’s committee on laws to determine whether existing laws allow traditional game fowl activities during barrio fiestas and whether they may be legally exempted, regulated, or authorized.

CEBU Province has become the second province in the country to adopt the government’s revised protocol for handling child abuse cases, expanding protection to cover online sexual exploitation and strengthening coordination among agencies to provide faster, trauma-informed services for child victims.