Prime Infra sends tugboats to battle Navotas landfill fire
By Trixee Rosel
Published Apr 15, 2026 05:36 pm
Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, Environment Acting Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna, and officials from concerned government agencies hold a press briefing on the ongoing operations at the Navotas Sanitary Landfill Facility. (Screengrab from Mayor John Rey Tiangco’s Facebook Live)
Prime Infrastructure has deployed two firefighting tugboats to help contain the blaze at the Navotas sanitary landfill, as local authorities continue efforts to extinguish a deep-seated fire that broke out on April 10.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, April 15, Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco said the tugboats, along with additional water support from private firms, are reinforcing ongoing containment operations at the 40-hectare landfill site.
“We have borrowed tankers from Maynilad, while Prime Infra has sent tugboats equipped with fire pumps to help contain the blaze, and these additional resources are a big help in our operations,” Tiangco said.
He said the city government has also coordinated with other agencies and private partners to reinforce response efforts, as the fire continues to affect the area.
The mayor added that assistance from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and Department of Transportation (DOTr) has also been sought to support containment efforts.
Tiangco said the city hospital remains on standby to attend to residents who may be affected by smoke or smog caused by the ongoing incident.
He reiterated that the local government’s priority is to fully contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to other sections of the landfill.
The fire broke out at around 7:56 p.m. on April 10, and was declared “under control” on April 12, although authorities have yet to confirm full containment as of the latest update.
Closure, turnover gaps complicate response
The fire has exposed gaps in the facility’s closure and turnover process following the abrupt withdrawal of its private operator earlier this year.
Tiangco said the operator pulled out in February despite earlier coordination meetings on the landfill’s closure and rehabilitation plan.
“We were surprised after several meetings where we were pressing them when they suddenly left and removed all their equipment,” he said during a press briefing.
He said the lack of a formal turnover left the city government managing a critical waste facility without sufficient resources.
The landfill ceased regular operations in 2025 following the non-renewal of its contract as early as May 2023, and the operator had earlier been repeatedly summoned to the Sangguniang Panlungsod to present its closure and waste disposal plans.
On the fire response, he said containment remains difficult as the blaze continues to burn beneath the surface, with thermal scanners detecting deep hotspots that cannot be fully reached above ground.
The landfill has been divided into sectors, with firebreak channels constructed in unaffected areas to prevent further spread while responders isolate the burning sections.
He said water is only being used in controlled amounts as it is not effective against deep-seated fires and may worsen conditions by creating oxygen pockets.
Tiangco said soil covering remains the only viable long-term solution, but operations are being slowed by tidal conditions that prevent sand-carrying barges from reaching the site.