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The Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MMDRRMC) convened today to provide a status update on the Navotas Sanitary Landfill fire incident, reporting that the fire is now 79.6% contained.
In a press briefing, MMDA Chairman and concurrent MMDRRMC head Atty. Don Artes said the discussion focused on the situation on the ground, ongoing actions, and the equipment being utilized to effectively address the issue.
“Moving forward, the incident will serve as a learning experience to improve preparedness and response capabilities,” Artes stressed.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. instructed Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. to seek technical assistance from foreign partners, including expert teams from Japan and the United States, to address the Navotas Sanitary Landfill fire.
“The DND chief reached out to our foreign partners, who promptly responded and committed to providing continued support for the needs of Navotas,” said Special Envoy for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga.
For his part, Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco expressed his gratitude to the MMDA for convening the meeting.
“I am thankful to Chairman Artes for convening this meeting. To provide a status update, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reported that the air quality index in Metro Manila remains within acceptable or normal levels despite the recent incident involving the sanitary landfill. Additionally, we are utilizing a drone with thermal imaging capability to assess the possibility of ignition within the 44-hectare site,” Tiangco said.
The mayor explained that the closure and rehabilitation plan had not been implemented by the operator, constituting violations of the conditions stipulated in the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).
Metro Manila Council President and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora commended the Navotas LGU for its swift action to contain the fire.
“We understand how severe the situation in Navotas has been. It should serve as a lesson for us to be more prepared instead of merely reacting,” Zamora said.
The NSLF Task Group, led by the local government unit of Navotas, continues to conduct fire suppression operations through soil covering, smothering, and misting.
The fire at the Navotas Sanitary Landfill began on April 10, and continuous to be actively managed.
Among the agencies assisting in the operations are the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Transportation (DOTr), DENR-Environmental Management Bureau, and MMDA. (MMDA)
