Taguig city: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is taking proactive steps by coordinating with the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) for potential legal action against landfill operators as efforts are intensified to manage the Navotas landfill fire.
According to Philippines News Agency, Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna announced during the ASEAN Climate Week 2026 in Taguig City that the DENR is mobilizing technical experts to tackle the ongoing fire. This blaze has led to unhealthy air quality in parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby Bulacan province.
Cuna noted that air quality in NCR remains generally fair to good, except for Valenzuela, where levels are slightly above national guideline values. The National Ambient Air Quality Guideline Values (NAAQGV) in the Philippines, managed by the DENR, set legally enforceable limits for pollutants to safeguard public health, as per the agency's Air Quality Management Section.
The DENR's Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) is responsible for overseeing compliance with standards established in Republic Act No. 8749, or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999. Cuna highlighted that Bulacan province has very high levels of Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5, urging vulnerable groups to stay indoors or wear masks.
Efforts are concentrated on extinguishing the fire at the 41-hectare Navotas landfill site, which continues to emit smoke affecting nearby areas. Meanwhile, Cuna confirmed that the OSG has started gathering documents for potential enforcement actions against those responsible for the landfill's operations. The EMB previously identified the former operator as the Philippine Ecology Systems Corp. (PhilEco).
Cuna stated that the OSG has requested documents and certified copies, with submissions currently underway. A meeting with OSG lawyers is anticipated soon to determine available legal remedies. To bolster firefighting and waste management strategies, the DENR has enlisted technical support from local and international partners, including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
EMB OIC Assistant Secretary Jacqueline Caancan has directed regional directors to require sanitary landfill operators to submit contingency plans for fire incidents and emergencies within 15 days. The DENR has also reminded local government units to cease operations of open and controlled dumpsites to protect nearby communities.
Cuna mentioned that the incident has prompted a review of firefighting preparedness for large-scale environmental fires. Discussions with the Bureau of Fire Protection are ongoing to enhance capabilities for managing grass, forest, and waste disposal facility fires. Potential partnerships are being explored to provide necessary capacity-building.
