(UPDATE) PUBLIC Works Secretary Vince Dizon returned to the Navotas Sanitary Landfill on Tuesday, leading a high-level inspection team amid rising concerns over toxic emissions and persistent underground fires at the dumpsite.
Dizon was joined by Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuyo Endo, Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna, Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco, and a team of technical experts from Japan’s disaster response units, signaling a stronger international collaboration to address the fire at the Navotas Landfill.
The visit marks a critical follow-up effort by the government to assess the condition of the landfill, where smoldering methane pockets have continued to produce hazardous smoke, affecting not only Navotas but nearby cities as well.
Authorities said the presence of Japanese experts is expected to fast-track technical solutions, particularly in controlling deep-seated fires that are difficult to extinguish using conventional methods.
Dizon emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that the deployed heavy equipment and mitigation measures in previous days must now be evaluated for effectiveness, while identifying additional interventions to contain the blaze.
Residents in surrounding communities have been grappling with deteriorating air quality, prompting health concerns, especially among vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.
The DPWH, in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is now working closely with international specialists to apply science-based approaches in suppressing the landfill fire.
Japanese disaster response experts, known for their advanced technologies and experience in complex environmental emergencies, are expected to recommend strategies that go beyond surface-level firefighting.
These may include oxygen suppression techniques, soil layering, and gas venting systems aimed at neutralizing methane buildup, which is one of the key drivers of the prolonged fire.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had earlier ordered all concerned agencies to exhaust every possible measure to resolve the crisis, including tapping foreign expertise to ensure a faster and more effective response.
The directive underscores the administration’s priority to safeguard public health and prevent further environmental damage caused by the toxic emissions.
Local officials, meanwhile, expressed optimism that the intensified collaboration would lead to a breakthrough, as the landfill continues to pose both an environmental and public safety threat.
With the combined efforts of national agencies, local government units, and international partners, authorities are now racing against time to fully extinguish the fire and restore safe air quality in affected communities.
