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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Air quality in metropolis 'not good' due to continuous smoke from Navotas landfill—DENR

Air quality in metropolis 'not good' due to continuous smoke from Navotas landfill—DENR

Published Apr 27, 2026 03:09 pm
(JEL SANTOS/MB PHOTO)
(JEL SANTOS/MB PHOTO)
The current air quality in Metro Manila is “not good” due to the continuous smoke coming from the Navotas Sanitary Landfill, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said on Monday, April 27.
Drone footage from the Obando Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) on Sunday night, April 26, showed the Navotas landfill continuing to smolder and emit thick smoke affecting the town as of 6:30 p.m.
“The air quality at this time is not good because of the continuous smoke that is coming from the landfill,” he said during an ambush interview in Taguig City.
Cuna said they are now focused on quelling the fire, with all concerned agencies working to contain the blaze.
“It’s been taking some time because the area is not small, it’s 41 hectares. There’s progress already, and a lot of assistance has been provided,” he went on.
The DENR chief said vulnerable groups, including the elderly and children, are advised to stay indoors and continue wearing masks in areas affected by poor air quality.
“The elderly and children are advised to stay indoors, to continue to use masks in the area. That’s as far as the air quality is concerned,” said Cuna.
Landfill fires
According to Cuna, landfill fires have become a recurring occurrence, with authorities now working to strengthen response capabilities amid growing risks from extreme heat.
“This is a yearly occurrence, what’s happening,” Cuna said.
He said the environment department has already directed landfill operators to prepare contingency measures to prevent and respond to fires and other possible incidents.
Cuna said Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Director Jacqueline Caancan issued a directive requiring landfill operators to come up with contingency plans not only for fires but also for other risks within their areas.
“With extreme heat nowadays, we can anticipate, not only for landfills, but grass and forest fires, which have been occurring consistently,” he said.
“Almost 2 every week,” he added.
Also, the DENR chief said the agency has been coordinating with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to strengthen fire response capabilities, particularly in handling non-urban fires.
“We actually sat down with BFP last week,” Cuna said.
“We were discussing how we can strengthen our capabilities - not just them, but also us, because training for fires in the past has mostly been focused on urban fires,” he went on.
He noted that current capacities remain limited when it comes to addressing fires in landfills, grasslands, and forests.
“As far as grass fires, forest fires, and even waste disposal facility fires are concerned, we are sorely lacking in terms of capacity,” Cuna said.
“We are speaking with possible partners to provide us with capacity building that is sorely needed,” he said.
(MB FILE PHOTO)
(MB FILE PHOTO)
Possible legal actions
Per Cuna, the DENR is now coordinating with the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to determine possible legal actions in connection with the Navotas landfill incident.
“The Solicitor General’s Office, we are coordinating with for possible actions to be filed, have already requested for documents and copies of certain documents,” he said.
“Submissions are being done as we speak, and there will be a meeting with OSG lawyers soon,” he added.
Cuna said the DENR expects to determine the appropriate legal remedies within the week.
“Mostly within the week, we will be able to determine, moving forward what the legal remedies are available,” he said.
On April 10, a fire gutted the Navotas Sanitary Landfill, leading to smoke emissions that affected air quality in the city and nearby areas.

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Air quality metropolis not good due to continuous smoke from Navotas landfill DENR Metro Manila
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