RESIDENTS in seven Metro Manila cities are breathing unhealthy air as a result of the ongoing blaze at the Navotas sanitary landfill, which started April 10, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) warned on Saturday.
According to the department’s 5 p.m monitoring on Saturday, Caloocan, Malabon, and parts of Quezon City (Ateneo area and Commonwealth Avenue) were classified as “Very Unhealthy,” while San Juan City and Navotas were deemed “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.”
Marikina and Valenzuela were classified as “Acutely Unhealthy.”
For areas designated as Very Unhealthy, pedestrians are urged to avoid heavy traffic areas, and people with heart and respiratory diseases are urged to stay indoors and rest. Unnecessary trips should be postponed and people should restrict the use of vehicles.
People are urged to limit outdoor exertion in areas designated as acutely unhealthy, while those with respiratory diseases are asked to limit outdoor exertion in areas designated as unhealthy for sensitive groups.
The DENR made these measurements in Continuous Ambient Air Quality stations in several Metro Manila cities, which measures PM 2.5 (fine particulate matter) levels.
The bureau said Metro Manila was experiencing a “thermal inversion,” where warm air sits below cold air and “acts like a lid that prevents pollution from rising.”
Meanwhile, the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) said the high nitrogen dioxide produced by the fire in the Navotas landfill was observed in as far as Bataan.
In a statement, PhilSA cited a map it prepared showing hourly snapshots from 7:45 am to 3:45 pm on April 11, the day the fire broke out.
“On the morning of 11 April 2026, high nitrogen dioxide was observed over Navotas City, with elevated levels extending as far as Bataan due to predominantly westward wind from Navotas. By the afternoon of 11 April, NO₂ concentrations had decreased but remained relatively high across Metro Manila,” the statement reads.
PhilSA added that observations were consistent with reports and measurements on the ground that the air quality impacts of the landfill fire extended beyond the immediate vicinity.
The Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Saturday reiterated its call for residents to wear face masks due to the unhealthy wind levels.
“If going out cannot be avoided—especially for senior citizens, pregnant women, and those with respiratory diseases such as asthma—do not forget to wear a face mask,” the office said.
“The local government continues to monitor the [air quality index] to ensure that all QCitizens are informed and updated about the air quality in the city,” it added.
Meanwhile, Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco said the city was building a long road dike to connect to the Navotas sanitary landfill to speed up the ongoing firefighting in the area. The dike was expected to be completed over the weekend, he said.
The mayor said he and his team returned to the landfill to inspect the dredging and the ongoing soil cover operations, which would fully extinguish the flames.
“The dumping of mud from the sea is being carried out to cover the burning sections of the landfill. The excavated mud is placed on top of the garbage to help put out the fire and reduce the thick smoke,” Tiangco said.
“We understand the concern of our fellow citizens, and we are taking all necessary steps to resolve this as quickly as possible. You can expect continuous updates from us,” he added.
According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the DENR, the fire was caused by spontaneous combustion fueled by two main factors: methane gas buildup and extreme heat.
The BFP in the city also conducting misting operations to cool affected areas and to reduce smoke and hotspots in the landfill.
Meanwhile, the [Information and Communications Technology] Office established internet connectivity, and the [Department of Public Works and Highways] conducted dredging operations to improve water access. However, heavy smoke caused zero visibility, posing challenges to firefighting and movement within the area,” the BFP reported.
The Manila City Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Department advised the public to wear face masks as the air quality across the city was classified as “very unhealthy,” as fire continues to burn at the Navotas landfill.
In a Facebook post Saturday, the Manila DRRM department urged the public to limit outdoor activities unless necessary and to wear a face mask as protection against the adverse health effects caused by polluted air, particularly those near the Tayuman area.
They added that vulnerable groups—such as children, senior citizens, pregnant women, and those with respiratory illnesses such as asthma—should stay indoors and avoid going out.
Aside from the wearing of face masks, the Department of Health (DOH), meanwhile, urged residents in affected areas to get hydrated.
“I told them to drink plenty of water so that they will always be hydrated. If they are dehydrated, the bad chemical will stick to their blood because they are poisonous,” said Health Secretary Ted Herbosa.
He added that affected communities will have their blood sampled at their toxicology center for examination.
“We will see what the effect is. If the blood level is high, they should come here because it is bad for their health,” Herbosa added.
The DOH told the Manila Times it will follow guidelines from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau as well as the Department of Social Welfare and Development—which runs evacuation centers—in affected areas.
