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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Japan disaster relief team arrives to aid Navotas landfill fire response

Japan disaster relief team arrives to aid Navotas landfill fire response

Published Apr 25, 2026 07:22 am
Members of the Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Expert Team arrive at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on April 23, 2026, to respond to the fire at the sanitary landfill site in Navotas City. (Japanese Embassy in the Philippines/Facebook)
Members of the Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Expert Team arrive at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on April 23, 2026, to respond to the fire at the sanitary landfill site in Navotas City. (Japanese Embassy in the Philippines/Facebook)

A Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Expert Team has arrived in the Philippines to assist authorities in responding to the fire at the Navotas Sanitary Landfill, the Japanese Embassy in Manila said.

The JDR team, which comprises seven members from various Japanese institutions, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on April 23. These include experts and officials from the Embassy of Japan, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, the National Institute for Environmental Studies, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

According to the Embassy, the JDR team will provide technical advice on firefighting operations, air pollution monitoring, and waste management.

It will work closely with local authorities to assess the situation, analyze contributing factors, and recommend measures to address the fire and its environmental impact.

“The JDR Expert Team has safely arrived in Manila. Japanese environmental and disaster management experts will assess and provide technical advice on the Navotas Sanitary Landfill fire,” Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya said in a social media post on Friday, April 24.

“We will work closely with the Philippines to monitor the situation to mitigate the health risks of affected communities,” he added.

A kick-off meeting between Philippine authorities and the JDR Expert Team took place on April 24, where the Philippine side briefed the latter on the current condition of the landfill and its effects on the environment and local communities.

The JDR team is set to conduct assessments and provide recommendations based on Japan’s technical expertise and experience.

A fire broke out at the Navotas Sanitary Landfill on March 26, with smoke from the site raising concerns over harmful substances that pose a serious threat to residents in the surrounding areas.

Strengthening cooperation

According to the Embassy, the deployment aims to support the rapid extinguishment of the fire and the restoration of the living environment in affected areas.

It added that the assistance also highlights ongoing cooperation between Japan and the Philippines, particularly as the two countries mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

The Japanese Embassy said it will continue to work closely with the Philippine government to help improve the situation.

“Kasama niyo kami (We are with you),” it said.

Related Tags

PH-Japan Japanese Embassy JICA Navotas City Navotas landfill Japan Disaster Relief Expert Team Endo Kazuya
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