Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco is set to provide clarification on Wednesday regarding the continued smoke emissions coming from the site of the former Navotas Sanitary Landfill, which has been affected by fire since Friday night.
Thick smoke with a strong odor continued to spread from the area in the days following the incident, raising concern among nearby communities. As of 5:46 a.m. Wednesday, authorities reported that smoke was still being emitted from the site despite ongoing containment efforts.
A multi-agency response team composed of CAMANAVA–Bulacan disaster response units, personnel from local government units in the National Capital Region, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the Air Force, and the Philippine Coast Guard has been working continuously to suppress the smoke and prevent further spread.
Officials said the fire appears to be coming from buried waste within the landfill, making it difficult to fully extinguish. Tiangco, after an on-site inspection earlier, said covering the affected portion with soil or sand remains the primary option being considered to cut off oxygen supply and stop the smoldering underground fire.
In a social media update posted around 8:58 a.m., Tiangco said he met with Obando Mayor Leonardo Valeda to discuss the impact of the smoke on nearby communities, particularly in four barangays in Obando that have been affected.
During the meeting, Tiangco presented updates on the inter-agency task force’s efforts to suppress the fire and showed video footage from his inspection of the landfill. Both local officials discussed assistance for affected residents, including medical support and relief operations.
Tiangco said Navotas City will extend assistance to affected residents and open the Navotas City Hospital for patients from Obando experiencing smoke- or fire-related health symptoms. The city also plans to distribute N95 masks to residents in heavily affected areas.
He added that the Navotas Health Department had earlier conducted a medical mission at Obando National High School, where 206 evacuees were given face masks and medical kits as part of the initial response.
