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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Protecting the protectors: Safety measures for cops ordered amid health threat from Navotas landfill fire

Protecting the protectors: Safety measures for cops ordered amid health threat from Navotas landfill fire

Published Apr 20, 2026 03:34 pm
AIR QUALITY ALERT—Parts of Metro Manila remain hazy and smoggy on Monday morning, April 20, due to smoke coming from the Navotas Sanitary Landfill, which caught fire on April 10.  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reported on Sunday that only four cities in Metro Manila recorded “good” to “fair” air quality levels, while most areas fell under “unhealthy” to “acutely unhealthy.” (Santi San Juan/MB Photo)
AIR QUALITY ALERT—Parts of Metro Manila remain hazy and smoggy on Monday morning, April 20, due to smoke coming from the Navotas Sanitary Landfill, which caught fire on April 10.  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reported on Sunday that only four cities in Metro Manila recorded “good” to “fair” air quality levels, while most areas fell under “unhealthy” to “acutely unhealthy.” (Santi San Juan/MB Photo)
Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), ordered all police commanders in Metro Manila and nearby areas to implement adjustments in deployment and personnel management amid the health threats as a result of the fire that hit the Navotas Sanitary Landfill on April 10.
Nartatez said chiefs of police and unit commanders must come up with measures to protect ground personnel from the adverse effects of the hazardous air quality in Metro Manila and nearby areas.
“Our chiefs of police and unit commanders in the affected areas were already instructed to implement measures to ensure the safety and protection of our personnel on the ground,” said Nartatez.
Air quality monitoring in several parts of the capital region showed elevated levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
These fine particles pose health risks when inhaled over prolonged periods. In Navotas City, smoke emissions from a burning landfill further worsened local conditions, with air quality reaching unhealthy levels.
Based on the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (Pagasa) observations, haze has been more noticeable over northern Metro Manila, as well as parts of Calabarzon and Central Luzon on Monday, April 20.
Pagasa said the lingering haze is being driven by current weather conditions that limit the dispersion of particles in the air.
Nartatez said among the health safety measures are the use of protection gears and adjustments in police deployment in the affected areas.
He said local police units were also directed to assist affected communities through the distribution of face masks in areas experiencing heavy smog and poor air quality.

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PNP Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. Navotas landfill fire
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