Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Eon Sanchez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776318770697photo-collage.png (3).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Authorities have yet to fully contain the Navotas landfill fire on its sixth day, with operations slowed by difficulties in transporting heavy equipment to the site. <em>Eon Sanchez, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Authorities have yet to fully contain the Navotas landfill fire on its sixth day, with operations slowed by difficulties in transporting heavy equipment to the site.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/14/residents-affected-by-navotas-sanitary-landfill-fire-remain-at-evacuation-site-1837">Residents affected by Navotas sanitary landfill fire remain at evacuation site</a></div><p>Officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Navotas local government, Obando municipal government, and the Philippine Coast Guard inspected the site Thursday morning after traveling by boat from the BFP Malabon Incident Command Post.</p><p>The fire-hit facility spans around 47 hectares, with 43 hectares used as landfill. Authorities estimate that 70 to 80 percent of the area has already been affected by the blaze.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/4/13/how-thermal-inversion-sea-breeze-worsen-haze-from-navotas-landfill-fire-1559">How thermal inversion, sea breeze worsen haze from Navotas landfill fire</a></div><p>DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said transporting heavy equipment remains the most critical challenge in suppressing the fire.</p><p>“Ang pinakacritical ngayon is yung pagdadala ng heavy equipment,” Dizon said.</p><p>He explained that the site remains difficult to access, with equipment needing to be transported via barge, which depends on tide levels.</p><p>“Ang challenge lang natin ngayon ay walang daan na papunta dito… kapag naglo-low tide, hindi na makapasok ang barge,” he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WATER TO SOIL</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Due to these constraints, fire operations are shifting from using water to smothering the fire with soil to cut off oxygen supply.</p><p>“Hindi tubig ang papatay dito sa sunog na ito… ang magpapatay dito lupa,” Dizon said.</p><p>Two bulldozers, one backhoe, and a dredger arrived at the site around 8 a.m. Thursday to begin the “land covering” phase of operations.</p><p>Dizon said ongoing road construction leading to the landfill may be completed by the weekend, which could allow faster deployment of heavy equipment.</p><p>Authorities, however, have yet to provide a definite timeline on when the fire will be fully extinguished.</p><p>“Hindi pa kami makakapagbigay ng timeline… once na ma-mobilize na yung equipment, saka pa lang tayo makakapag-estimate,” he said.</p><p>According to the BFP, the fire was likely triggered by methane gas buildup from decomposing waste that ignited due to exposed surfaces.</p><p>At least 30 personnel, along with fire trucks, water tankers, fire boats, and high-capacity pumps, remain deployed in the area.</p><p>Despite partial containment, hazardous smoke continues to affect nearby communities, including Obando, Bulacan and parts of Metro Manila.</p><p>Residents have been advised to wear face masks, particularly N95 masks, due to the persistent haze.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;KAILANGAN MAY MANAGOT&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco said accountability is being looked into, noting that the landfill had reportedly been abandoned.</p><p>“Kailangan talagang may managot,” Tiangco said.</p><p>The landfill is operated by PhilEco, and the mayor said operators are required to ensure the site remains safe even after operations cease.</p><p>Meanwhile, some residents continue to bear the impact of the thick smoke from the landfill fire.</p><p>Liezel Punit, a 55-year-old eatery owner in Dampalit, Malabon, said her livelihood has been affected as fewer customers are willing to buy food due to the foul odor.</p><p>“Isang linggo na ’yan, ’di pa naaapula. Anong gagawin namin? ’Di mo naman pwedeng ihinto ang hanapbuhay namin,” she said.</p><p>She added that her usual six dishes have been reduced to only two due to declining sales.</p><p>“Matumal. Wala nang gaanong bumibili… nagiging dalawa na lang kasi wala namang gaanong bibili kasi ang katuwiran, ang baho ng usok,” she said.</p><p>Punit also described the smell as “amoy-goma” and “parang sinusunog na tanso,” noting that she recently suffered an asthma attack due to the smoke.</p><p>“May hika lang ako pero hindi ako inaatake. Ngayon lang ako inatake ng hika… pati dibdib ko, ang sakit na,” she added.</p><p>Authorities said they will continue monitoring the site and fast-track the deployment of heavy equipment to fully extinguish the fire. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><br/><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_bHD3e_15rU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fe1FYkdu5zA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Authorities have yet to fully contain the Navotas landfill fire on its sixth day, with operations slowed by difficulties in transporting heavy equipment to the site.</p>

Authorities have yet to fully contain the Navotas landfill fire on its sixth day, with operations slowed by difficulties in transporting heavy equipment to the site.

Access issue hinders efforts to suppress Navotas landfill fire

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Access issue hinders efforts to suppress Navotas landfill fire

Eon Sanchez,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 16, 2026 01:56 PM PHT

Read More:

Navotas Sanitary Landfill

Rubbish Fire

DPWH

BFP

PCG

Navotas City

Obando

Bulacan

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