The Manila Times
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Monday that it issued Notices of Violation to Philippine Ecology Systems Corp. (PHILECO), operator of the Navotas Sanitary Landfill, for several critical violations. This follows a fire that occurred in the said landfill a month ago. According to the DENR, the operator's violations include failing to submit a required Safe Closure and Rehabilitation Plan; failing to install and maintain air pollution control devices and systems, such as sufficient gas vent pipes; failing to comply with daily soil cover; unapproved discharges that violate the Clean Water Act; and failure to complete the Abandonment Plan. The DENR said it is now working with the Office of the Solicitor General regarding case build-up against the operator, adding that witnesses' judicial affidavits are currently being finalized. Environment Secretary Juan Miguel T. Cuna said the agency will pursue the case rigorously. “Environmental negligence has consequences. We will not allow operators to walk away from their responsibilities,” he said. The DENR said the Navotas landfill incident prompted the agency to renew its focus on the systemic issues and push more strongly for broader changes in waste management. As methane buildup from mixed waste is a known cause of subsurface fires, the DENR emphasized the need for segregation at the source. It urged local government units to strictly implement the 'No Segregation, No Collection' policies, as mandated by Republic Act No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. It added that public education should begin at the household level, not at the disposal site. Secretary Cuna also clarified that the issue lies in poor implementation, not in the landfills themselves. “We must stop confusing open dumps with properly managed SLFs. Modern waste management means well‑run and rehabilitated sanitary landfills, enhanced by enclosed, modern resource‑recovery systems,” he said. He added that standards already exist in law and engineering practices, and the real challenge is ensuring strict, consistent implementation of proper operational practices across all facilities. The DENR said it remains open to trying advanced solid waste management solutions that lower fire risk, recover resources, and lessen dependency on conventional landfilling. It added that it is actively seeking and exploring systems that function in enclosed, controlled environments to eliminate the risks associated with open disposal and convert trash into useful outputs. Meanwhile, the agency reported that environmental conditions surrounding the landfill continue to improve significantly. According to them, real-time monitoring of air quality across Metro Manila and Bulacan shows a consistent decline in particulate matter concentrations. It noted that stations in Caloocan, Navotas, Meycauyan, and Obando have shown stabilized levels in the 'Good' or 'Fair' categories. The agency attributed this to fire suppression efforts and the natural dispersion of smoke as active smoldering decreased. It added that regional air quality has mostly reverted to near-baseline values, although localized 'Fair' readings may still occur depending on wind direction. "The air is clearing, the danger is receding, and the science shows that our communities are safer today than they were at the height of the incident," Secretary Cuna said, highlighting the importance of this development. Affected areas have also returned to normal as environmental conditions improve. As of May 4, all 170 families temporarily evacuated in Obando had safely returned home, according to reports from the Office of Civil Defense, said Secretary Cuna. The DENR assured the public that monitoring, enforcement, and legal procedures would continue unabated until the situation at the Navotas SLF stabilizes. Secretary Cuna also committed to accountability and reform. "Our job is not just to put out fires—it is to prevent the next one; that begins with responsibility, compliance, and a commitment to do better."
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