BULAKAN, Bulacan — The San Miguel Aerocity Inc. (SMAI) clarified its role on the fire that recently broke out at the Navotas Sanitary Landfill Facility (NSLF).
The said facility was engulfed by fire recently and its health hazard smoke has affected residents in Navotas, Malabon, the coastal villages of Obando and other parts of Metro Manila.
SMAI reported that it is supporting efforts to respond to the fire at the said facility by deploying heavy equipment, barges, and tankers in coordination with local authorities and other relevant government agencies.
However, it clarified that it does not operate or manage the landfill, although it acquired the property through a court-approved expropriation in 2023.
In a statement released by SMAI to mediamen, the company said it entered the area only in February 2026 to allow for a proper transition, considering the landfill’s role in Metro Manila’s waste disposal system.
It pointed out that until then, Phil Ecology Systems Corp. (PhilEco), the landfill’s operator under a concession agreement with the Navotas City Government, continued operating the facility until the agreement expired in August 2025.
It noted that PhilEco continued to occupy the area afterward, but did not implement the landfill’s safe closure and rehabilitation plan.
The Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) for the NSLF makes clear that PhilEco remains responsible for complying with its obligations under the ECC and Republic Act No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, including the implementation of the Safe Closure and Rehabilitation Plan approved by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Environmental Management Bureau.
Amid the ongoing situation, SMAI said it remains focused on helping contain the fire, protect public safety, and work with relevant government agencies to address the incident as quickly and safely as possible. (Ramon Efren Lazaro)
Photo credit to:
John Raven Dolorito
SK Chairman – Salambao
Obando, Bulacan
