Thermal drone, slope stabilizer deployed to contain Navotas landfill fire

The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have deployed a thermal drone and slope stabilizer to help contain the fire at the Navotas Sanitary Landfill.

According to Dano Tingcungco’s report on “24 Oras” on Thursday, EMB National Capital Region (NCR) regional director Janice Pammit explained that the fire reignites when air enters the slope.

“Kailangan mastabilize ‘yung slope para ma-lessen ‘yung pagpasok ng hangin (The slope needs to be stabilized to lessen the entry of air),” Pammit said, adding that a drone with a thermal scanner will be deployed to check the heat underneath the landfill.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is still investigating the cause of the blaze.

Based on the Philippine Space Agency’s (PhilSA) monitoring, there is now less visible smoke coming from the landfill area but there are still some indications particularly in parts of Bulacan.

Pammit said Metro Manila has a good and fair air quality index, while Meycauayan City in Bulacan has a fair air quality since April 28.

She added that the EMB-NCR is also analyzing water quality with results expected to be released this week.

The EMB-NCR is also coordinating with the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to determine the liability of the former landfill operator, the Philippine Ecology Systems Corporation (PhilEco).

The EMB-NCR said its investigation is focused on PhilEco’s alleged violations of the conditions of its Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), including its reported failure to fully comply with proper landfill closure and rehabilitation requirements.

“10% lang po ng soil cover ang nagawa nila doon sa property. Hindi pa po namin na measure ‘yung height nun, if it fits the requirement po. ‘Yung gas vents po, dapat dadagdagan pa ‘yun with closure. Wala pa po kasi nga po soil covering pa lang, and then the submission, delayed submission of their safe closure and rehabilitation and abandonment plan,” Pammit said.

(Only 10% of the soil cover has been completed on the property. We have yet to measure the height to determine if it meets the requirement. It also needs more gas vents with the closure. Since only soil covering has been done so far, the submission of their safe closure, rehabilitation, and abandonment plan has also been delayed.)

“DENR has the power to initiate filing of cases, and the OSG will act based on info submitted to them by the agency concerned,” Environment Assistant Secretary Norlito Eneran said.

GMA News is reaching out to PhilEco for comment on the matter.

Earlier, PhilEco said it was unable to complete the required closure and rehabilitation of the landfill as they were allegedly evicted by San Miguel Aerocity Inc. (SMAI), which now owns the site.

SMAI claimed that PhilEco failed to comply with the requirements for proper closure and rehabilitation of the property before leaving. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/JMA, GMA News