A senior Catholic leader is calling for accountability and possible legal action after a landfill fire in Navotas blanketed nearby communities in smoke for days.
Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan said the incident points to failures to meet legal standards for sanitary landfills under Philippine environmental laws and regulations.
“That is precisely why the Navotas landfill fire demands more than concern — it demands accountability,” David said, urging scrutiny of both operators and regulators.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Environmental Management Bureau said it is evaluating possible criminal, civil and administrative cases against the former landfill operator.
Officials cited an unfinished closure plan, missing gas control systems and a non-functioning leachate treatment facility as lapses that may have contributed to the fire.
Fire authorities said methane from decomposing waste, intensified by extreme heat, was the likely cause, though a final determination has not been issued.
Smoke from the fire spread across Navotas, Malabon and Obando, raising health concerns among residents exposed to polluted air for prolonged periods.
David questioned why an environmental compliance certificate was issued, asking whether regulators ensured the facility met basic environmental and operational safety requirements.
Under Republic Act 9003, sanitary landfills must include liners, gas management systems and groundwater monitoring, along with strict post-closure care to prevent contamination.
The law also mandates waste diversion through recycling and composting, yet audits have shown compliance among local communities remains uneven and often inadequate.
David said the fire reflects broader enforcement failures, citing past landfill incidents linked to environmental and safety violations.
“When a landfill poisons the air and endangers water sources, the public is not just entitled to answers — it is entitled to justice,” he said.
He also signaled possible collective legal action, urging citizens to hold those responsible to account.
