Navotas landfill fire eases; air clears in Metro Manila, Bulacan
By Trixee Rosel
(Photo courtesy of Patrick Joshua C. Zacarias, Navotas City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office)
Metro Manila's air quality has improved as emissions from the Navotas City landfill fire ease amid ongoing containment and suppression efforts, with Bulacan seeing similar gains.
The Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-EMB) reported that air quality in the National Capital Region has improved to “fair to good.”
It added that particulate matter (PM) levels in Bulacan also decreased, indicating reduced smoke and airborne pollutants linked to the landfill fire.
Latest monitoring results showed a continued decline in smoke concentration, signaling early signs of environmental recovery as containment efforts progress.
On the ground, the Navotas City government said operations have been further organized, with the landfill divided into 10 sectors to improve coordination and speed up suppression efforts.
Authorities said soil covering remains the primary containment strategy, with 1.5 barges of earth delivered within the day.
Two dedicated barges continue to supply filling materials to smother remaining hotspots.
Limestone powder is also being applied to suppress smoldering areas, while compaction is being carried out to reduce oxygen within waste layers and slow combustion.
Operational support at the site has likewise been strengthened with the establishment of a fuel depot and internet connectivity to improve coordination among response teams.