MANILA — A church leader in Caloocan has called for those responsible for the Navotas landfill fire to be held accountable, as the blaze that started April 10 enters its second week.
Cardinal Pablo David said incidents like this—where landfill operations harm air quality, threaten water systems, affect aquaculture, and repeatedly spark fires—should not go unanswered.
He cited Republic Act No. 9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which gives citizens the right to take legal action against violators, negligent officials, and agencies that fail to uphold the law.
“The situation in Navotas goes beyond concern; it demands accountability. The question now is who will take part in pursuing collective legal action,” he said.
The Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said it is currently reviewing possible civil, criminal, and administrative charges against the landfill’s previous operator.
Authorities said the fire has caused extensive air pollution, affecting communities across Metro Manila and nearby Bulacan.
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