Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Darylle Sarmiento

ABS-CBN News

Local government units, including Quezon City, advised the public on Saturday to stay indoors and wear N95 masks amid “unhealthy” air quality after a fire broke out at the Navotas Sanitary Landfill. According to the official page of the Environmental Management Bureau – National Capital Region (EMB-NCR), validation and aerial assessments using drones were conducted following a fire at the landfill, which broke out on Friday night, April 10.Drone mapping was deployed alongside air quality sampling as several areas in Metro Manila reported experiencing smog.Air Quality Index (AQI) readings at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday classified air conditions as “unhealthy” to “acutely unhealthy.”In Barangay Talipapa, Quezon City, a resident reported that at around 5:00 PM, she inhaled what she described as smog, which caused discomfort in her nose and eyes. Meanwhile, at around 4:00 p.m. in Barangay Pasong Tamo, smog was highly visible, extending into the sky.Barangay officials also confirmed that residents have reported discomfort due to a smell similar to burnt electrical wires.“Napansin na po namin na talagang mausok po sa area. Natanggap naming tawag, ang sabi nila parang nasusunog na kuryente; hindi nila masabi kung kuryente o ano man, basta masakit daw po sa dibdib,&quot; said Dennis Herrera, head of Knights Fire and Rescue Volunteers Inc. and BDRRM personnel of Pasong Tamo.In an official post by the Mandaluyong City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), air quality as of 6:57 PM registered a PM2.5 level of 80, categorized as “very unhealthy.”PM2.5 stands for Particulate Matter 2.5—fine particles small enough to be inhaled and penetrate deep into the lungs.“Ang PM2.5 po, &#x27;yun po &#x27;yung fine particulate matters na may sukat na 2.5 micrometers o mas maliit pa. Ito po ay 25 to 30 times na mas maliit pa sa buhok ng tao,” Mandaluyong CDRRMO officer Roald Arcangel explained.<div> </div>PM2.5 Air Quality Levels:0–25: Good26–35: Fair36–50: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups51–90: Very Unhealthy91–150: Acutely Unhealthy151 and above: Emergency<div> </div>To avoid exposure, the public is advised to stay indoors and use air filters or purifiers when possible. If going out is unavoidable, wearing N95 or KN95 face masks is strongly recommended.While the fire may have contributed to the decline in air quality, Arcangel further explained that other factors can trigger these changes, such as vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, cooking, and smoking.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/11/navotas-landfill-blaze-under-control-aerial-response-underway-1210">Navotas landfill blaze under control, aerial response underway</a></div>Meanwhile, Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco clarified on his official page that the fire broke out at an old, non-operational sanitary landfill not owned by the Navotas LGU.Trenching has been conducted to prevent the fire from spreading. An aerial water bucket drop by the Philippine Air Force (PAF), along with water tankers and personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Navotas, has been deployed.As the situation develops, air quality will largely depend on weather patterns and whether the smog clears or persists.Authorities in Valenzuela and Manila have also advised the public to wear masks as hazy conditions continue to impact the metro.

Local government units, including Quezon City, advised the public on Saturday to stay indoors and wear N95 masks amid “unhealthy” air quality after a fire broke out at the Navotas Sanitary Landfill.

Local government units, including Quezon City, advised the public on Saturday to stay indoors and wear N95 masks amid “unhealthy” air quality after a fire broke out at the Navotas Sanitary Landfill.

Metro Manila air turns ‘very unhealthy’ following Navotas landfill fire

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Metro Manila air turns ‘very unhealthy’ following Navotas landfill fire

Darylle Sarmiento,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 12, 2026 02:14 AM PHT

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Updated April 12, 2026 02:16 AM PHT

Read More:

Metro Manila

air quality

Navotas landfill

health

pollution

environment

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