Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

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Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Navotas sanitary landfill, which has been burning for over two weeks, is supposed to have more than 100 gas vents installed across its 41-hectare area. But the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Thursday it only has 53.</p><p>In a media briefing, Maria Delia Cristina Valdez, chief of the Solid Waste Management Division of the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), explained the importance of gas vents, especially since methane—a highly combustible gas—is a byproduct of waste degradation. </p><p>“‘Yung gas may certain concentration na pwede siyang maging explosive. ‘Yung gas vents, ‘yun ‘yong way para lumabas ‘yung methane. Ngayon, kung hindi siya lumabas pwede talagang magkaroon ng fire diyan,” she said.</p><p>Methane is produced during the methanogenic phase of waste degradation, which usually takes several years and is characterized by low oxygen levels.</p><p>The gas is also a known greenhouse pollutant. In properly managed landfills, methane is collected through gas vents and flared at the surface.</p><p>DENR-EMB Regional Director Atty. Janice Pammit said the combination of extreme heat and methane buildup may have triggered the fire.</p><p>“Dahil summer it may have caused the ignition dahil meron na ngang build up ng methane doon. The BFP is still on the ground suppressing the fire,” Pammit said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/28/experts-local-officials-intensify-efforts-to-contain-navotas-landfill-fire-1022">Experts, officials intensify efforts to contain 18-day Navotas landfill fire</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>OPERATOR FLAGGED FOR VIOLATIONS PRIOR TO FIRE</strong></div><p>The lack of gas vents is just one of several violations flagged by the DENR even before the fire broke out on April 10.</p><p>Among the requirements for operating a sanitary landfill are daily and intermediate soil cover, leachate collection, treatment and recirculation systems, and clay or synthetic liners to prevent contamination of groundwater.</p><p>The DENR found that the landfill operator failed to provide daily soil cover for waste even before the fire. The agency added that the operator had belatedly submitted a safe closure and rehabilitation plan, later withdrew it, and has yet to submit a revised version.</p><p>According to the DENR, soil cover has only been applied to about 10% of the site.</p><p>Following the incident, which has affected air quality in parts of Metro Manila and Bulacan in recent days, the DENR is building a case to be submitted to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) for possible civil and criminal complaints.</p><p>“It’s the OSG’s evaluation that will say na ito ay may ground to file civil or criminal cases. Pagdating sa adminstrative, it’s with the DENR,” said Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs Atty. Norlito Eneran.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>AIR QUALITY SHOW SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT</strong></div><p>Despite the ongoing fire, the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) said satellite data shows nitrogen dioxide levels have returned to pre-fire levels for two consecutive days.</p><p>In a statement, PhilSA said its findings are consistent with ground measurements from EMB-NCR and Central Luzon.</p><p>“Particulate matter or PM over Metro Manila has improved on Tuesday (28 April) and Wednesday (29 April),” the agency said.</p><p>Nitrogen dioxide is a component of smoke produced by burning, as well as emissions from vehicles and power plants. Lower concentrations indicate a reduction in smoke output from the fire.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/27/air-quality-drops-as-navotas-landfill-fire-blankets-metro-manila-in-thick-smog-0756">Air quality drops as Navotas landfill fire blankets Metro Manila in thick smog</a></div>

<p>The Navotas sanitary landfill, which has been burning for over two weeks, is supposed to have more than 100 gas vents installed across its 41-hectare area. But the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Thursday it only has 53.</p>

The Navotas sanitary landfill, which has been burning for over two weeks, is supposed to have more than 100 gas vents installed across its 41-hectare area. But the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Thursday it only has 53.

Burning Navotas landfill lacks gas vents required vs methane buildup — DENR

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Burning Navotas landfill lacks gas vents required vs methane buildup — DENR

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 30, 2026 08:16 PM PHT

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Navotas landfill

Department of Environment and Natural Resources

fire

gas vents

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